Teasing
/ˈtiːzɪŋ/noun
The act of playfully provoking, mocking, or attempting to arouse curiosity or desire.
Did you know?The verb originally described combing or separating wool and flax with a teasel, a prickly plant whose hooked heads literally tore fibers apart.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*taisijaną
“To pull apart, separate, or comb fibers; the reconstructed ancestor is approximate.”
Old English
Old English
tǣsan
“To comb, card, or disentangle wool and flax.”
Middle English
Middle English
tesen
“To tease or comb textile fibers into separated strands.”
14th Century
English
tease
“To card, comb, or raise the nap of cloth; the textile sense remained primary.”
18th Century
English
tease
“To irritate, torment, or provoke someone, likely extending the idea of repeatedly pulling or troubling.”
19th Century
English
teasing
“Playful provocation, flirtatious stimulation, or deliberate withholding of an expected response.”
Modern English
English
teasing
“The act of playfully provoking, mocking, flirting, or arousing curiosity.”