teased, ppl. a.
(tiːzd)
[f. tease v.1 + -ed1.]
1. a. Having the fibres pulled asunder: see tease v.1 1. In quot. 1620 fig. Also teased out.
| c 1430 Two Cookery-bks. 22 Caste þer-to tesyd brawn. 1620 Brinsley tr. Virgil 58 To sing a teased verse..a pastorall song.., drawne out small like wooll in spinning. 1851 Art Jrnl. Illustr. Catal. p. iv**/1 This cylinder is cleaned of the teazed cotton by means of brushes. 1875 Huxley & Martin Elem. Biol. (1877) 258 Treat a fresh bit of teased-out nerve with chloroform. |
b. Of hair: fluffed out by back-combing. U.S.
| 1965 A. Lurie Nowhere City xiv. 147 A waitress appeared in the courtyard, shivering in a teased hair-do and a pink uniform. 1983 J. Valin Natural Causes xxix. 200 A pretty nurse with teased brown hair. |
2. a. Irritated or annoyed in a petty way.
| 1627 May Lucan iii. 527 Vntill the townesmens teased valour broke..The fence. 1852–5 M. Arnold Faded Leaves, River v, This teased o'erlabour'd heart. |
b. With out. Worn out, exhausted. colloq. rare.
| 1943 Hunt & Pringle Service Slang 65 Teased out, worn out or tired after a long spell of flying or other duty. 1961 D. Moore Highway of Fear i. 9 What about you? Still with that teased-out shipping company? |