Definition

Noun: * A plant (Dipsacus sativus) closely resembling the common teasel, cultivated historically for its stiff, hooked flower heads which were used in the textile industry to raise the nap on woven cloth (a process known as "fulling").

Usage

• This term specifically refers to the cultivated form of teasel used as a tool. It is often used in historical, botanical, or textile manufacturing contexts.
• Example: "Before the invention of metal carding tools, fuller's teasel was essential for finishing high-quality woolen fabrics."
• Example: "The dried flower heads of the fuller's teasel are remarkably effective for brushing and aligning fibers."

Advanced Usage

• The term can appear in discussions of traditional crafts, historical agriculture, or the etymology of related words (e.g., "fulling," the process for which the plant is named).
• Example: "The use of fuller's teasel represents a sophisticated pre-industrial technology for textile production."

Variants and Related Words

• Teasel (or Teazel, Teazle): The common name for plants of the genus . "Fuller's teasel" is a specific type.
• Fuller's Thistle: An occasional, informal name for the same plant, referencing its thistle-like appearance and use in fulling.
• Dipsacus sativus: The formal botanical Latin name for fuller's teasel.

Synonyms

• Carding Teasel: A direct synonym emphasizing its use for combing fibers.
• Clothier's Teasel: Another historical synonym referencing its use by cloth makers.

Different Meanings

• The word "teasel" alone can refer to any plant in the genus, including the common teasel (), which is often wild and sometimes also used for fulling. "Fuller's teasel" specifies the cultivated species bred for superior tool characteristics.

Noun

1. similar to the common teasel and similarly used; widespread in Europe and North Africa and western Asia; naturalized in United States