louse

[lous, lous, louz]

noun

plural

lice, louses 

1. any small, wingless insect of the order Anoplura sucking louse, parasitic on humans and other mammals and having mouthparts adapted for sucking, as Pediculus humanus humanus body louse or Pediculus humanus capitis head louse and Phthirius pubis crab louse, or pubic louse.

2. any insect of the order Mallophaga bird louse, biting louse, or chewing louse, parasitic on birds and mammals, having mouthparts adapted for biting.

3. plant louse.

4. Slang.,  a contemptible person, especially an unethical one.

verb (used with object)

loused, lousing 

1. to delouse.

verb phrase

1. louse up,  to spoil; botch.

   Miscasting loused up the movie.

louse

/ laʊs /

noun

1. any wingless bloodsucking insect of the order Anoplura: includes Pediculus capitis ( head louse ), Pediculus corporis ( body louse ), and the crab louse, all of which infest man

2. any wingless insect of the order Mallophaga, such as the chicken louse: external parasites of birds and mammals with biting mouthparts

3. any of various similar but unrelated insects, such as the plant louse and book louse

4. slang,  an unpleasant or mean person

verb

1. to remove lice from

2. slang,  (foll by up) to ruin or spoil

Word History and Origins

Origin of louse¹

First recorded before 900; 1910–15 louse for def. 4; Middle English lous(e), luse, plural lise, lice; Old English lūs, plural lȳs; cognate with Dutch luis, German Laus, Old Norse lūs

Word History and Origins

Origin of louse¹

Old English lūs; related to Old High German, Old Norse lūs

Example Sentences

This was the result of the Swanburne hair poultice that was applied on a regular basis, to repel lice and fleas and encourage healthy scalps, according to school policy.

Read more on Literature

The importance of maintaining a healthy scalp is not to be sneezed at, and lice are no picnic either.

Read more on Literature

The latter is transmitted by lice and produces alternating periods of fever and recovery.

Read more on Science Daily

She sees many children in her class who she thinks would probably be better off at home: “Kids with a lot of green and yellow mucus. We’ve had kids with active lice in school.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Initially, we can’t wait for Iacono’s louse to get eaten but we come to treasure his comic relief, particularly when Xavier wanders off to relieve himself next to a nest of velociraptors.

Read more on Los Angeles Times