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Glite Dictionary
biting louse

biting louse

9.9
A small wingless insect that lives on birds and eats their feathers and skin
  • noun
  • /ˈbaɪtɪŋ laʊs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : piojo morder
  • Unlike the sucking louse, a biting louse feeds mainly on feathers and skin.

Examples

  • The veterinarian found a biting louse on the parrot's feathers.

  • Poultry farmers often must deal with infestations of biting lice among their birds.

  • The biting louse feeds on the blood of its host.

  • Many birds are affected by biting lice.

  • Poultry farmers often must deal with infestations of biting lice among their birds.

  • The veterinarian found a biting louse on the parrot's feathers.

  • Many birds are affected by biting lice during the warmer months.

Synonyms

louse
vsbiting louse
3 6.7

A small insect that lives on hair or fur and drinks blood

is narrower and used mainly for parasites that chew feathers on birds
bird louse
vsbiting louse
  • Specialized
9.9

A small wingless insect that lives on birds and bites their skin or feathers

is the exact nontechnical name for the same bird parasite
Mallophaga
vsbiting louse
  • Archaic
9.9

Small insects that live on birds and some mammals and eat skin, feathers or hair

is the general common term rather than a taxonomic name

Surface Forms

biting louse singular
biting lice plural

Morphology

bite + louse

The compound is directly compositional: 'biting' (from 'bite') describes the behavior or mouthparts of the 'louse', so the phrase literally means 'a louse that bites' or 'a louse with biting mouthparts'. This adjective+noun pattern is a regular, cross-linguistically common construction, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Biting louse names a small louse that uses its mouth to bite and eat the feathers and skin of birds, so the word biting shows how it feeds. That's why the name means a tiny insect that 'lives on birds' and can harm their feathers.