[f. TEASE v.1 + -ING1.] The action of TEASE v.1

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  1.  The pulling asunder of the fibers of wool, hair, animal tissue, etc.: see TEASE v.1 1. Also attrib., as teasing-needle.

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1591.  Percivall, Sp. Dict., Carmenadura, teasing, carminatio.

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1851.  Art Jrnl. Illustr. Catal., p. iv**/1. The web of cleaned cotton … is passed through a lapping machine, and … undergoes a further teazing.

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1873.  T. H. Green, Introd. Pathol. (ed. 2), 118. The cells have been separated by teasing.

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1891.  Cent. Dict., Teasing-needle, a needle for teasing, or tearing into minute shreds, a specimen for microscopic examination.

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  2.  Petty irritation: see TEASE v.1 2.

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1678.  Butler, Hud., III. II. 452. Not by the force of Carnal Reason, But indefatigable Teazing.

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1731.  Swift, On Pulteney, 1. Sir Robert weary’d by Will Pulteney’s teazings.

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1858.  Doran, Crt. Fools, 212. He was compelled to endure the teazing of the domestics.

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  3.  slang. A flogging: see TEASE v.1 3. ? Obs.

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1865.  Daily Tel., 27 Oct., 5/2. ‘When I’ve had another teasing,’ said a boy thief … alluding to the hangman and his cat, ‘I shall be as good as Tommy So-and-So.’

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