Main Entry:

¹louse

Pronunciation:

\ˈlau̇s\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English lous, from Old English lūs; akin to Old High German lūs louse, Welsh llau lice

Date:

before 12th century

1plural lice \ˈlīs\ a: any of various small wingless usually flattened insects (orders Anoplura and Mallophaga) parasitic on warm-blooded animals b: a small usually sluggish arthropod (as a biting louse) that lives on other animals or on plants and sucks their blood or juices c: any of several small arthropods (as a book louse) that are not parasitic2plural lous·es \ˈlau̇-səz\ : a contemptible person : heel