rhizoverbBeta
DictionarylouseParasitic insect
noun

louse

LOUSS/laʊs/

A tiny insect that lives parasitically on another animal.

The louse lies caught on the comb with all six legs exposed.

A magnified head louse freshly caught on a fine-toothed lice comb, with its entire six-legged body exposed in an open gap beside the teeth.
Etymology
louseOld Englishlouse

Old English lus already named the parasitic insect. The modern word retains that literal meaning for the pest found on human hair and skin.

In context

Your Manhwa Recap207:18
scratching his crotch, fishing out a louse and crushing it. It set me itching all over
After Taking Over a Thug's Body, He Built a New Life With Hunting, Honey and Herbs 2

More examples

  • The school nurse checks the children for head lice.
  • Some lice live among a bird's feathers.
  • She uses a fine-toothed comb to remove lice from his hair.

Forms

louse · lice

delouse verb — To remove lice from someone or something.

Similar words

parasite
A broader term covering organisms that live at a host's expense.