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Flea Definition

flea

See also fleá

Contents

English

Wikipedia has an article on: Flea

Etymology 1

False colors scanning electron micrograph of a flea

From Middle English fle, from Old English flēah, flēa, from Proto-Germanic *flauhaz (cf. West Frisian flie, Dutch vlo, German Floh), from pre-Germanic *plóukos, from Proto-Indo-European *plúsis.

Pronunciation

Noun

flea (plural fleas)

  1. A small, wingless, parasitic insect of the order Siphonaptera, renowned for its bloodsucking habits and jumping abilities.
  2. A thing of no significance.
Derived terms
Translations
parasitic insect

Etymology 2

Alternative forms.

Verb

flea

  1. Obsolete spelling of flay.
    • 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 74:
      In this Thwackum had the advantage; for while Square could only scarify the poor lad's reputation, he could flea his skin [...].

Anagrams

 

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More Definition Results for "Flea"
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'Flea' Images
'Flea' Information

Fleas are the insects forming the order Siphonaptera. They are wingless, with mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood. Fleas are external parasites, living by hematophagy off the blood of mammals (including bats and humans) and birds.
from: Wikipedia: flea,
Sat Jan 14 01:05:57 2012
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