teasel

Meanings

Noun

• Any of several plants of the genus Dipsacus.
• The dried flower head of the fuller's teasel, Dipsacus fullonum (species), used for teasing or carding cloth.
• Any contrivance intended as a substitute for teasels in dressing cloth.

Verb

• To raise the nap on cloth; to tease; to card.

Origin

• From Middle English tesel, tasil, tasel, tosel, from Old English tǣsel, tǣsl, from Proto-West Germanic *taisilu.