English Explanatory Dictionary

louse

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A small parasitic wingless insect of the order Psocodea.
  2. A contemptible person; one who is deceitful or causes harm.
  3. The currency sign ¤.
verb
  1. To remove lice from; to delouse.

Pronunciation

/laʊs/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Back ache-louse.wav

Word forms

louse lice louses lousing loused

Etymology

From Middle English lous, lows, lowse, from Old English lūs, from Proto-West Germanic *lūs, from Proto-Germanic *lūs, from Proto-Indo-European *lewH-. See also West Frisian lûs, Dutch luis, German Low German Luus, German Laus; also Welsh llau (“lice”), Tocharian B luwo, maybe Sanskrit यूका (yūkā).

Synonyms

arithmetic bug cootie leaping dandruff maggot worm delouse

Derived words

bark louse bee louse body louse booklouse carp louse chewing louse chicken louse clover louse crab louse fish louse fishlouse flea-louse grape-louse green louse head louse headlouse hen louse jumping plant louse lazy louse leaf louse lens louse louse around louseborne louse fly louseless louselike louseling louser louse-ridden louse trap louse up lousewort lousicide lousy pea louse plant louse pricklouse pubic louse sea louse sheep louse sucking louse sugar louse three skips of a louse water louse whale louse woodlouse
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