I. ˈtē-zəl noun
Etymology: Middle English tesel, from Old English tǣsel; akin to Old English tǣsan to tease
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : an Old World prickly herb ( Dipsacus fullonum of the family Dipsacaceae, the teasel family) with flower heads that are covered with stiff hooked bracts and were used especially formerly in the woolen industry — called also fuller's teasel
b. : a plant of the same genus as the teasel
2.
a. : a flower head of the fuller's teasel used when dried to raise a nap on woolen cloth
b. : a wire substitute for the teasel
[
teasel 1a
]
II. transitive verb
( tea·seled or tea·selled ; tea·sel·ing or tea·sel·ling ˈtēz-liŋ, ˈtē-zə-)
Date: 1543
: to nap (cloth) with teasels