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

1 plural 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 parasitic
2 plural lous·es \ˈlau̇-səz\ : a contemptible person : heel