flea Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun any wingless bloodsucking parasitic insect noted for ability to leap

WordNet

Flea transitive verb
Etymology
See Flay.
Definitions
  1. To flay. Obs.
    He will be fleaced first And horse collars made of's skin. J. Fletcher.
Flea noun
Etymology
OE. fle, flee, AS. fleá, fleáh; akin to D. , OHG. flh, G. floh, Icel. fl, Russ. blocha; prob. from the root of E. flee. 84. See Flee.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) 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 (P. canis) takes its place. See Aphaniptera, and Dog flea. See Illustration in Appendix.

Webster 1913