louse

¹louse

noun \ˈlau̇s\

Definition of LOUSE

1

plural lice \ˈlīs\ 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 \ˈlau̇-səz\ : a contemptible person : heel

Examples of LOUSE

1. a problem with head lice
2. Her ex-husband is a real louse.

Origin of LOUSE

Middle English lous, from Old English lūs; akin to Old High German lūs louse, Welsh llau lice

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to LOUSE

Synonyms: bastard, beast, bleeder [British], blighter [chiefly British], boor, bounder, bugger, buzzard, cad, chuff, churl, clown, creep, cretin, crud [slang], crumb [slang], cur, dirtbag [slang], dog, fink, heel, hound, joker, jerk, lout, pill, rat, rat fink, reptile, rotter, schmuck [slang], scum, scumbag [slang], scuzzball [slang], skunk, sleaze, sleazebag [slang], sleazeball [slang], slime, slimeball [slang], slob, snake, so-and-so, sod [chiefly British], stinkard, stinker, swine, toad, varmint, vermin

Related Words: barbarian, brute, caveman, Neanderthal, savage; loudmouth, vulgarian; lowlife, miscreant, rascal, rogue, roughneck, scab, scamp, scoundrel, villain, wretch; booby, doofus [slang], fool, jackass, nincompoop, ninny, nit [chiefly British], nitwit, nut, schmo (or schmoe) [slang]; airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, dink [slang], dolt, dope, dork [slang], goon, half-wit, idiot, imbecile, moron, turkey; brat, insolent, nuisance, pest, snip; snob, snoot, snot; dweeb [slang], nerd

Near Antonyms: hero, heroine, idol, role model; gentleman, lady; angel, saint

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Other Invertebrates (Except Insects) Terms

anemone, cephalopod, quahog

Rhymes with LOUSE

blouse, chiaus, chouse, douse, gauss, Gauss, grouse, house, Klaus, Laos, mouse, scouse, souse, spouse