Tease

Tease  (tiːz) 

 

4. ( tr ) to separate the fibres of; comb; card

5. ( tr ) to raise the nap of (a fabric) with a teasel

6. ( US ), ( Canadian ) Also: backcomb  to comb the under layers of (the hair) towards the roots to give more bulk to a hairstyle

7. ( tr ) to loosen or pull apart (biological tissues, etc) by delicate agitation or prodding with an instrument

 

tease 

O.E. tæsan "pluck, pull apart" (fibers of wool, flax, etc.), from W.Gmc. *taisijanan (cf. Dan. tæse, M.Du. tesen, Du. tezen "to draw, pull, scratch," O.H.G. zeisan "to tease, pick wool"). The original sense is of running thorns through wool or flax to separate, shred, or card the fibers.