Teaselling is the present participle of the verb "teasel," which means to comb a textile using a teasel, a prickly plant. The spelling of teaselling can be tricky because it appears to have three consonants in a row. However, the second "s" in teaselling is pronounced with a "z" sound, making it easier to say. The phonetic transcription of teaselling is /ˈtiːzəlɪŋ/, with the stressed syllable on "te" and a schwa sound on the last syllable.
Teaselling is a process used to raise the nap or texture of fabric by means of mechanical manipulation. It involves the use of a tool called a teasel, which is a dried, prickly seed head from a type of thistle plant. The teasel has sharp bracts or spines that can penetrate the surface of fabrics.
The teaselling technique dates back to ancient times and was commonly used in the textile industry to enhance the appearance and quality of woven fabrics. It is particularly beneficial for fabrics such as wool, flannel, and tweed, as it helps to create a softer, fuller, and more luxurious feel.
During the teaselling process, the fabric is typically stretched and anchored, while the teasel heads are applied and rubbed in a systematic manner across its surface. As the teasel bracts come into contact with the fabric, they dislodge loose fibers and raise the nap, creating a textured surface. This gives the fabric a more plush and fuzzy appearance, as well as improving its insulating properties.
Teaselling can be done manually or with the help of machinery, depending on the scale of production. Traditionally, teasel heads were attached to a rotating drum or cylinder, known as a teasel gig or gig mill, which was manually operated. In modern times, mechanized teaselling machines have been developed, incorporating various types of combs, brushes, or rollers, to achieve the same effect in a more efficient manner.
Overall, teaselling is a technique used in the textile industry to enhance the texture, appearance, and quality of fabrics, particularly those made from natural fibers like wool.
The word teaselling has its roots in the Middle English term tisel or tesell, which referred to a type of plant with prickly heads. This plant, known as teasel in modern English, was primarily cultivated for its seed heads, which were used to comb fibers in the process of textile production. Over time, the term teaselling acquired the specific meaning of using teasel heads to raise the nap on cloth, a process also known as teazling. The word itself is derived from the Old English word tesel.