Flea

Flea
Flea Flea, n. [OE. fle, flee, AS. fle['a], fle['a]h; akin to D. vtoo, OHG. fl[=o]h, G. floh, Icel. fl[=o], Russ. blocha; prob. from the root of E. flee. [root]84. See {Flee}.] (Zo["o]l.) An insect belonging to the genus {Pulex}, of the order {Aphaniptera}. Fleas are destitute of wings, but have the power of leaping energetically. The bite is poisonous to most persons. The human flea ({Pulex irritans}), abundant in Europe, is rare in America, where the dog flea ({Ctenocephalides canis}, formerly {Pulex canis}) and the smaller cat flea ({Ctenocephalides felis}) take its place. See {Aphaniptera}, and {Dog flea}. See Illustration in Appendix. [1913 Webster]

{A flea in the ear}, an unwelcome hint or unexpected reply, annoying like a flea; an irritating repulse; as, to put a flea in one's ear; to go away with a flea in one's ear.

{Beach flea}, {Black flea}, etc. See under {Beach}, etc. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Flea — Michael Balzary Flea sur scène Naissance 16 octobre 1962 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • flea — O.E. flea, from P.Gmc. *flauhaz (Cf. O.N. flo, M.Du. vlo, Ger. Floh), perhaps related to O.E. fleon to flee, with a notion of the jumping parasite, or perhaps from PIE *plou flea (Cf. L. pulex, Gk. psylla; see PUCE (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

  • flea — ► NOUN ▪ a small wingless jumping insect which feeds on the blood of mammals and birds. ● (as) fit as a flea Cf. ↑fit as a flea ● a flea in one s ear Cf. ↑a flea in one s ear ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • FLEA — (Heb. פַּרְעֹשׁ, parosh). The flea symbolizes an insignificant, loathsome creature (I Sam. 24:15; 26:20). Nevertheless, the ancients did not refrain from calling themselves parosh, and this was the name of a Judahite family that came with Ezra to …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • flea — [flē] n. [ME fle < OE fleah, akin to Ger floh < same Gmc base as FLEE] 1. any of an order (Siphonaptera) of small, flattened, wingless insects with large legs adapted for jumping: as adults they are bloodsucking parasites on mammals and… …   English World dictionary

  • Flea — (fl[=e]), v. t. [See {Flay}.] To flay. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] He will be fleaed first And horse collars made of s skin. J. Fletcher. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • flea — [fli:] n [: Old English;] 1.) a very small insect without wings that jumps and bites animals and people to eat their blood ▪ Are you sure the dog has fleas ? 2.) send sb off with a flea in their ear BrE to talk angrily to someone, especially… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • flea — [ fli ] noun count a small jumping insect that lives on animals and bites them …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • flea|y — «FLEE ee», adjective. full of fleas: »a fleay kennel …   Useful english dictionary

  • Flea — Michael Peter Balzary, mit Künstlernamen Flea, (* 16. Oktober 1962 in Burwood (Vorort von Melbourne), Australien) ist Bassist der US amerikanischen Crossover/Funk Rock Band Red Hot Chili Peppers, Studio Musiker und Gelegenheitsschauspieler.… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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