Flea

Pronunciation

• IPA: /fliː/

• Rhymes: -iː

• Homophones: flee

From Middle English fle, from Old English flēah, flēa, from Proto-Germanic *flauhaz (cf. West Frisian flie, Dutch vlo, German Floh), from pre-Germanic *plóukos, from Proto-Indo-European *plúsis.

Full definition of flea

Noun

1. A small, wingless, parasitic insect of the order Siphonaptera, renowned for its bloodsucking habits and jumping abilities.
2. A thing of no significance.

Derived terms

• flea market
• sand flea
• sand fly
• sandfly

Alternative forms.

Verb

verb

1. Obsolete spelling of flay
• 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 74:In this Thwackum had the advantage; for while Square could only scarify the poor lad's reputation, he could flea his skin ....

Anagrams

• alef
• Lafe
• leaf