Obs. Forms: 5 teysoure, 6 teiser, 6–7 teaser, teazer, 7 teizer, [Agent-n. from TEISE v.2] One who rouses the game; spec. one of the first brace or leash of deerhounds let slip. (In later use confused in spelling with TEASER.)
c. 1410. Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), xxxv. þe firste teysoure and þe resceyuour that draweth hym doune, shull parte þe skynne. Ibid. [see TEISE v.2].
1575. Turberv., Venerie, 266. By this worde teasers is ment, the first greyhoundes or brase or lease of greyhoundes which is let slip.
c. 1590. Greene, Fr. Bacon, i. 5. The loftie frolicke bucks, That scudded fore the teisers like the wind.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Country Farme, 686. As neere the couert as you can conueniently, you shall place your Teasers, that is, the first brace of greyhounds for the course, which should be the lightest, nimblest, and swiftest dogges you haue.
1660. Oxinden, Charls Triumphant, III. vi.
| Their Myrmidons, and Furies came to fear us; | |
| Their Teazers, and their Bloodhounds came to tear us. |
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 189/1.
fig. 1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St. II. v. 66. But these Teazers, rather to rouze then pinch the Game, onely made Whitaker find his spirits.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., V. § 339. The Lord Paget likewise, who … had been one of their Teizers, to broach those bold, high Overtures.
1796. Campaigns 1793–4, II. v. 21. Francis himself, the great Carmagnol teizer.
