n.
Pronunciation: ' lau ̇ s
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English lous, from Old English l ū s; akin to Old High German l ū s louse, W llau lice
Date: before 12th century
1 plural lice \ ' l ī s \ a : any of various small wingless usually flattened insects (orders Anoplura and Mallophaga) parasitic on warm-blooded animals b : a small usually sluggish arthropod (as a biting louse) that lives on other animals or on plants and sucks their blood or juices c : any of several small arthropods (as a book louse) that are not parasitic
2 plural lous · es \ ' lau ̇ -s ə z \ : a contemptible person : HEEL