teasel
pronunciation
How to pronounce teasel in British English:
UK ['ti:zl]
How to pronounce teasel in American English:
US [ˈtizəl]
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- Noun:
- any of several herbs of the genus Dipsacus native to the Old World having flower heads surrounded by spiny bracts
Word Origin
- teasel (n.)
- also teazel, teazle, type of plant, Old English tæsel "large thistle used in teasing cloth," from Proto-Germanic *taisilo (cognates: Old High German zeisala), from root of Old English tæsan "to pluck" (see tease (v.)).
Example
- 1. Teasel with lilac flowers native to old world but naturalized in north america ; dried flower heads used to raise a nap on woolen cloth .
- 2. Although he felt some of the newly appointed political commissar of the teasel act , but like his shrewish .