fish louse

Multiple Entries:
  fish louse    louse  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
fish louse

▶noun a parasitic crustacean which attaches itself to the skin or gills of fish. [Many species in classes Branchiura and Copepoda.]

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
louse/laʊs/

▶noun

• 1 (pl. lice) a small wingless parasitic insect which infests human skin and hair. [Pediculus humanus (see body louse, head louse).]

  ■ a related insect which lives on the skin of mammals or birds.

  [Orders Anoplura (sucking lice) and Mallophaga (biting lice).]

  ■ used in names of small invertebrates that parasitize aquatic animals or infest plants, e.g. fish louse.

• 2 (pl. louses) informal a contemptible person.

▶verb

• 1 (louse something up) informal spoil something.

• 2 archaic remove lice from.

– origin OE lūs, (pl.) lȳs, of Gmc origin.