teasle

teasle
    n 1: any of several herbs of the genus Dipsacus native to the
         Old World having flower heads surrounded by spiny bracts
         [syn: {teasel}, {teazel}, {teasle}]
    

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.
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   Note: Small teasel is {Dipsacus pilosus}, wild teasel is
         {Dipsacus sylvestris}.
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   2. A bur of this plant.
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   3. Any contrivance intended as a substitute for teasels in
      dressing cloth.
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   {Teasel frame}, a frame or set of iron bars in which teasel
      heads are fixed for raising the nap on woolen cloth.
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Teasle \Tea"sle\, n. & v. t.
   See {Teasel}.
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