n. 1 any of various arachnids of the order Acarina, parasitic on the skin of dogs and cattle etc. 2 any of various insects of the family Hippoboscidae, parasitic on sheep and birds etc. 3 colloq. an unpleasant or despicable person. tick-bird = ox-pecker. tick fever a bacterial or rickettsial fever transmitted by the bite of a tick.
[ OE ticca (recorded as ticia); ME teke, tyke: cf. MDu., MLG teke, OHG zecho ]