flea market

noun

1. a market, often outdoors, consisting of a number of individual stalls selling old or used articles, curios and antiques, cut-rate merchandise, etc.

flea market

noun

1. an open-air market selling cheap and often second-hand goods

Other Word Forms

• flea-marketer noun
• flea-marketeer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of flea market¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Idioms and Phrases

A market, usually held outdoors, where used goods and antiques are sold. For example, We picked up half of our furniture at flea markets. The term is a direct translation of the French marché aux puces and presumably implies that some of the used clothes and furniture might be flea-infested. [1920s]