wood tick

noun

: any of several ixodid ticks: such as

a

: a widely distributed tick (Dermacentor andersonii) of western North America that is a vector of Rocky Mountain spotted fever

b

: american dog tick

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

In Wisconsin, the two most common species of ticks are the American dog tick — sometimes called a wood tick — which are found statewide. —Laura Schulte, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 30 June 2021

The American dog tick, which is most prevalent east of the Rocky Mountains, is brown with grayish markings and sometimes called a wood tick. —Washington Post, 24 May 2021

Deer ticks, dog ticks, and wood ticks can carry and transmit several types of diseases that affect both dogs and humans, from Lyme Disease to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. —The Editors, Field & Stream, 3 Mar. 2020

Lyric Bartholomay, professor in UW-Madison’s Departments of Comparative Biomedical Sciences and Entomology, said that Rocky Mountain spotted fever is transmitted by dog ticks, also called wood ticks, that have long been ubiquitous across the state. —Anna Groves, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12 July 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

wood tick

noun

: any of several ixodid ticks: as

a

: rocky mountain wood tick

b

: american dog tick