Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
teasle

teasle

9.9
A tall wild plant with spiny flower heads once used to make cloth soft
  • noun
  • /ˈtiːzəl/
  • UK
: cardo
  • The dried heads of the teasle were once used in textile mills to raise the nap on cloth.

Examples

  • The teasle is easily recognized by its tall stems and spiny flower heads.

  • A field of wild teasle attracts many species of insects and birds.

  • The teasle is known for its spiky flower heads.

  • Farmers used teasles in the textile industry.

  • The teasle is easily recognized by its tall stems and spiny flower heads.

  • The dried heads of the teasle were once used in textile mills to raise the nap on cloth.

  • Farmers used teasle plants in the textile industry due to their unique texture.

Synonyms

teasel
vsteasle
1 9.9

A tall prickly plant with spiny flower heads used to brush wool

is the same concept but differs in spelling form
Dipsacus
vsteasle
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A tall prickly wild plant with spiky flower heads

refers to individual plants and notes historical textile processing
teazel
vsteasle
  • UK
9.9

A prickly wild plant with round flower heads used in dried flower arrangements

highlights historical textile use as well as those botanical features

Surface Forms

teasle singular
teasles plural

Etymology

Teasle comes from an old English name for the plant and is like the verb tease, which means 'to pull apart'. Its spiny, brush-like flower head was used in cloth mills to 'tease' fibers up and make the surface soft, so the name reminds us of the plant's job.