teazel
9.9
A prickly wild plant with round flower heads used in dried flower arrangements
- noun
- /ˈtiːzəl/
- UK
:
cardo
- The gardener admired the beautiful teazel plants, with their spiky flower heads attracting various insects.
Examples
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In the wildflower meadow, the teazel stood tall, its prickly bracts offering protection to the delicate blossoms.
-
She used teazel fibers to make a unique textile, showcasing the plant's usefulness beyond decoration.
-
Yarnmistress Teazel was sleeping and noticed nothing.
Fiction book (2000)
Synonyms
teasel
vsteazel
1
9.9
A tall prickly plant with spiny flower heads used to brush wool
is the botanical description without stressing its textile use
1
9.9
A tall prickly wild plant with spiky flower heads
refers to individual species within it rather than the whole genus
9.9
A tall wild plant with spiny flower heads once used to make cloth soft
is a general plant description that omits the historical textile focus
Surface Forms
Etymology
Teazel comes from an old word related to tease. People long ago used its hard, prickly head to 'tease' cloth by pulling up the soft fibres, so the name fits the plant's use.