Definition of LOUSE

louse

Meanings

Plural: lice, louses

Noun

  • wingless usually flattened bloodsucking insect parasitic on warm-blooded animals
  • a person who has a nasty or unethical character undeserving of respect
  • any of several small insects especially aphids that feed by sucking the juices from plants
  • wingless insect with mouth parts adapted for biting; mostly parasitic on birds
  • A small parasitic wingless insect of the order Psocodea.
  • A contemptible person; one who is deceitful or causes harm.

Verb

  • To remove lice from; to delouse.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English lous, lows, lowse, from Old English lūs, from Proto-West Germanic *lūs, from Proto-Germanic *lūs, from Proto-Indo-European *lewH-.
See also West Frisian lûs, Dutch luis, German Low German Luus, German Laus; also Welsh llau (“lice”), Tocharian B luwo, maybe Sanskrit यूका (yūkā).

Synonyms

arithmetic bug, bird louse, biting louse, cootie, delouse, dirt ball, insect, leaping dandruff, maggot, plant louse, sucking louse, worm

Scrabble Score: 5

louse is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
louse is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
louse is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 7

louse is a valid Words With Friends word