I. ˈlau̇s noun
( plural lice ˈlīs ; see sense 3 )
Etymology: Middle English lous (plural lys ), from Old English lūs (plural lȳs ); akin to Old High German & Old Norse lūs louse, Welsh llau lice
1. : any of various small wingless usually flattened insects that are parasitic on warm-blooded animals and constitute the orders Anoplura and Mallophaga — compare bird louse , sucking louse ; body louse , crab louse , head louse
2.
a. : any of various small usually sluggish arthropods that live on various animals or plants and suck their blood or juices — usually used in combination; compare bee louse , carp louse , fish louse , plant louse , whale louse
b. : any of several somewhat similar arthropods that are not parasitic — usually used in combination; compare book louse , wood louse
3. plural louses : a person regarded as extremely contemptible for parasitic or other odious low conduct : bastard , heel , rat , stinker
what a beast, what a cad, what a louse he had been — Walter Karig
while all the time she was withering her inner self with “… you louse ! You perfect louse ” — Catherine Hubbell
II. ˈlau̇s, ˈlau̇z transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English lowsyn, from lous, lows, n.
: to pick lice from
one old crone was alternately pinching a pretty child's cheeks and lousing her hair — I.L.Idriess