louse
|louse|
/laʊs/
small parasitic insect; despicable person
Etymology
'louse' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'lūs', where the Proto-Germanic root '*luisaz' meant 'louse'.
'louse' changed from the Old English word 'lūs' and the Middle English form 'lous' and eventually became the modern English word 'louse'.
Initially, it meant 'the parasitic insect', but over time it also acquired a figurative sense meaning 'a contemptible person'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a small, wingless parasitic insect that lives on the skin or in the hair of mammals and birds (plural: lice).
She found a louse in her child's hair.
Synonyms
Noun 2
informal. A contemptible, unpleasant, or despicable person.
That louse cheated him out of his money.
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Antonyms
Verb 1
to remove lice from (someone or something); to delouse.
They regularly louse the children to keep an outbreak from spreading.
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Idioms
Last updated: 2025/08/14 01:13