[louse] n [ME lous, fr. OE lus; akin to OHG lus louse, W llau lice] (bef. 12c) 1 pl lice a: any of various small wingless usu. flattened insects (orders Anoplura and Mallophaga) parasitic on warm-blooded animals b: a small usu. sluggish arthropod that lives on other animals or on plants and sucks their blood or juices--usu. used in combination "plant ~" c: any of several small arthropods that are not parasitic--usu. used in combination "book ~" "wood ~"
2. pl lous.es : a contemptible person: heel
[2]louse vt loused ; lous.ing (14c): to pick lice from: delouse