wood louse

noun Zoology.

any of certain small, terrestrial crustaceans of the genera Oniscus, Armadillidium, etc., having a flattened, elliptical body.

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Origin of wood louse

First recorded in 1605–15

Words nearby wood louse

Woodland culture, woodlander, woodlark, wood lily, wood lot, wood louse, woodman, wood meadow grass, Woodmere, wood mouse, woodnote

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for wood louse

Many of these Crustaceans could roll themselves into balls, like the wood-louse (Figs. 23 and 25).
The World Before the Deluge|Louis Figuier
He picked up a wood-louse that was creeping along a piece of bark: "What is the difference between Caesar and this?"
The Mysterious Stranger and Other Stories|Mark Twain
Finally they came across the wood-louse, whom they found mentioned in the letter as "maid-servant."
Italian Popular Tales|Thomas Frederick Crane
The following is taken from his description: The caterpillar is shaped like a wood-louse, hairy, and pale green.
New Zealand Moths and Butterflies|G. V. Hudson

There was once a wood-louse, who, being dissatisfied with his position, called himself a Pterygobranchiate.
The Hypocrite|Cyril Arthur Edward Ranger Gull

British Dictionary definitions for wood louse

woodlouse

/ (ˈwʊdˌlaʊs) /

noun plural -lice (-ˌlaɪs)

any of various small terrestrial isopod crustaceans of the genera Oniscus, Porcellio, etc, which have a flattened segmented body and occur in damp habitatsSee also pill bug

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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