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sucking louse
noun
: any of an order (Anoplura) of wingless insects comprising the true lice with mouthparts adapted to sucking body fluids
Examples of sucking louse in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Only one animal parasite, the pygmy hog-sucking louse, is currently included on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species, and none are included on the U.S. Endangered Species List.
—Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 28 Apr. 2022
When the pygmy hog-sucking louse slides toward extinction, who but the pygmy hog cares?
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2021
The blood-sucking louses usually make their way from head to head, leaving children (and occasionally their caregivers), scratching, itching, and generally uncomfortable with idea of teeny-tiny parasites crawling all over their scalps.
—Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 9 May 2018
The blood-sucking louses usually make their way from head to head, leaving children (and occasionally their caregivers), scratching, itching and generally uncomfortable with idea of teeny-tiny parasites crawling all over their scalps.
—Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 17 Oct. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sucking louse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1907, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near sucking louse
Cite this Entry
“Sucking louse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sucking%20louse. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
sucking louse
noun
suck·ing louse
: any of an order of wingless insects that include the true lice and have mouthparts used for sucking body fluids
Medical Definition
sucking louse
noun
: any of an order (Anoplura) of wingless insects comprising the true lice with mouthparts adapted for sucking body fluids
More from Merriam-Webster on sucking louse
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sucking louse
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