louse
Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /laʊs/
Noun

louse (plural lice)

  1. A small parasitic wingless insect of the order Psocodea.
  2. (colloquial, dated, not usually used in plural form) A contemptible person; one who is deceitful or causes harm.
    • 1946, Joseph Thompson Shaw, The hard-boiled omnibus: early stories from Black Mask (page 388)
      He said: "Thanks, friend; but you're wasting your time. You better warn Crocker. If that louse makes a play for me, he'll get hit with Chicago lightning!"
    • 1949, Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend (song)
      It's then that those louses go back to their spouses. Diamonds are a girl's best friend.
Synonyms Translations Translations Verb

louse (louses, present participle lousing; past and past participle loused)

  1. To remove lice from.
Synonyms Translations


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