'Dipsacus fullonum' definitions:
Definition of 'Dipsacus fullonum'
(from WordNet)
noun
Teasel with lilac flowers native to Old World but naturalized in North America; dried flower heads used to raise a nap on woolen cloth [syn: common teasel, Dipsacus fullonum]
Definition of 'Dipsacus fullonum'
From: GCIDE
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- Note: Small teasel is Dipsacus pilosus, wild teasel is Dipsacus sylvestris. [1913 Webster]
- 2. A bur of this plant. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Any contrivance intended as a substitute for teasels in dressing cloth. [1913 Webster]
- Teasel frame, a frame or set of iron bars in which teasel heads are fixed for raising the nap on woolen cloth. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Dipsacus fullonum'
From: GCIDE
- Fuller \Full"er\, n. [AS. fullere, fr. L. fullo. See Full, v. t.] One whose occupation is to full cloth. [1913 Webster]
- Fuller's earth, a variety of clay, used in scouring and cleansing cloth, to imbibe grease.
- Fuller's herb (Bot.), the soapwort ({Saponaria officinalis}), formerly used to remove stains from cloth.
- Fuller's thistle or Fuller's weed (Bot.), the teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) whose burs are used by fullers in dressing cloth. See Teasel. [1913 Webster]