flea-bitten

American  

[flee-bit-n] / ˈfliˌbɪt n /

adjective

1. bitten by a flea or fleas.

2. infested with fleas.

3. shabby; dilapidated; wretched.

4. (of a horse) having a light-colored coat with small, dark spots or streaks.

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flea-bitten British  

adjective

1. bitten by or infested with fleas

2. informal shabby or decrepit; mean

3. (of the coat of a horse) having reddish-brown spots on a lighter background

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Etymology

Origin of flea-bitten

First recorded in 1560–70

Example Sentences

Ms Crickmore said she spoiled her flea-bitten plant with masses of manure and plenty of water to produce the whopper.

From BBC • Oct. 15, 2025

After living in the shack for decades, Rupke was allowed to move into the caregiver’s house, where he slept in a room with the man’s flea-bitten dogs, according to the lawsuit.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 15, 2023

I can’t shake the image of Eddie the dog looking up at an empty, flea-bitten orange-and-green recliner chair, a metal-framed walking stick leaning against one armrest.

From The Guardian • Feb. 6, 2018

Mr. Amiri has a free hand with embellishment, and a love of casual staples — hoodies, flannels and so on — ratcheted to luxurious but still flea-bitten extremes.

From New York Times • Jan. 18, 2018

The darkness came, and he sprawled out at the foot of the huge bed, taking up more than half of it with his mangy, flea-bitten form.

From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby