from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Teasel \Tea"sel\, n. [OE. tesel, AS. t[=ae]sel, t[=ae]sl, the
fuller's herb. See {Tease}.] [Written also {tassel}, {tazel},
{teasle}, {teazel}, and {teazle}.]
1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus {Dipsacus}, of which one
species ({Dipsacus 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.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Small teasel is {Dipsacus pilosus}, wild teasel is
{Dipsacus sylvestris}.
[1913 Webster]
2. A bur of this plant.
[1913 Webster]
3. Any contrivance intended as a substitute for teasels in
dressing cloth.
[1913 Webster]
{Teasel frame}, a frame or set of iron bars in which teasel
heads are fixed for raising the nap on woolen cloth.
[1913 Webster]