WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Tea"sel
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OE. tesel, AS. t, t, the fuller's herb. See Tease.] [Written also tassel, tazel, teasle, teazel, and teazle.]
Definition : 1. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the genus Dipsacus, of which one species (D. fullonum) bears a large flower head covered with stiff, prickly, hooked bracts. This flower head, when dried, is used for raising a nap on woolen cloth.

Note: Small teasel is Dipsacus pilosus, wild teasel is D. sylvestris.

2. A bur of this plant.

3. Any contrivance intended as a substitute for teasels in dressing cloth. Teasel frame, a frame or set of iron bars in which teasel heads are fixed for raising the nap on woolen cloth.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Tea"sel
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : Defn: To subject, as woolen cloth, to the action of teasels, or any substitute for them which has an effect to raise a nap.

t. [imp. & p. p. Teaseled or Teaselled; p. pr. & vb. n. Teaseling or Teaselling.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913