Louse
/laʊs/noun
A small, wingless insect that lives as a parasite on the skin of mammals and birds.
Did you know?In medieval times, lice were seen as omens of filth and a reflection of one's moral character, linking cleanliness to virtue.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*lēkʲs
“A small biting insect or parasite.”
Old English
Old English
lūs
“A small, parasitic insect known to infest the hair.”
Old Norse
Old Norse
lús
“A similar small insect, used to refer to lice.”
Middle English
Middle English
lous
“A term for lice, often used in a pejorative sense.”
Modern English
English
louse
“Refers specifically to one of the parasitic insects in the family of lice.”