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Definition of Louse
1. Noun. Wingless usually flattened bloodsucking insect parasitic on warm-blooded animals.
Generic synonyms: Insect
Group relationships: Anoplura, Order Anoplura
Specialized synonyms: Common Louse, Pediculus Humanus, Head Louse, Pediculus Capitis, Body Louse, Cootie, Pediculus Corporis, Crab, Crab Louse, Phthirius Pubis, Pubic Louse
Derivative terms: Lousy
2. Noun. A person who has a nasty or unethical character undeserving of respect.
3. Noun. Any of several small insects especially aphids that feed by sucking the juices from plants.
Generic synonyms: Homopteran, Homopterous Insect
Specialized synonyms: Aphid, Adelgid, Grape Louse, Grape Phylloxera, Phylloxera Vitifoleae, Jumping Plant Louse, Psylla, Psyllid, Oak Blight
Derivative terms: Lousy
4. Noun. Wingless insect with mouth parts adapted for biting; mostly parasitic on birds.
Generic synonyms: Insect
Group relationships: Mallophaga, Order Mallophaga
Specialized synonyms: Chicken Louse, Menopon Gallinae, Menopon Palladum, Shaft Louse
Derivative terms: Lousy
Definition of Louse
1. n. Any one of numerous species of small, wingless, suctorial, parasitic insects belonging to a tribe (Pediculina), now usually regarded as degraded Hemiptera. To this group belong of the lice of man and other mammals; as, the head louse of man (Pediculus capitis), the body louse (P. vestimenti), and the crab louse (Phthirius pubis), and many others. See Crab louse, Dog louse, Cattle louse, etc., under Crab, Dog, etc.
2. v. t. To clean from lice.
Definition of Louse
1. a parasitic insect [n LICE] / to spoil or bungle [v LOUSED, LOUSING, LOUSES]
Medical Definition of Louse
1.
Origin: OE. Lous, AS. Ls, pl. Ls; akin to D. Luis, G. Laus, OHG. Ls, Icel. Ls, Sw. Lus, Dan. Luus; perh. So named because it is destructive, and akin to E. Lose, loose.