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Glite Dictionary
chigoe flea

chigoe flea

9.9
A small flea in tropical areas that burrows under the skin and causes itching or infection
  • noun
  • /ˈtʃɪɡoʊ ˈfliː/
  • South African
translation icon : pulga chigoe
  • The bite of a chigoe flea can cause swelling and intense itching.

Examples

  • Travelers are warned to protect their feet from chigoe fleas when visiting certain tropical regions.

  • The chigoe flea is often found in sandy areas.

  • Health officials urged villagers to take steps to avoid chigoe flea infestations.

  • Many travelers report bites from the chigoe fleas in tropical regions.

  • Health officials urged villagers to take steps to avoid chigoe flea infestations.

  • Travelers are warned to protect their feet from chigoe fleas when visiting certain tropical regions.

  • The bite of a chigoe flea can cause swelling and intense itching.

Synonyms

chigoe
vschigoe flea
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A very small tropical flea that buries itself under the skin and can cause serious infection

is narrower specifying mammals rather than all animals
Tunga penetrans
vschigoe flea
  • Specialized
9.9

A small flea that burrows into the skin of people and animals

is focused on host mention rather than on the harm it causes

Surface Forms

chigoe flea singular
chigoe fleas plural

Morphology

chigoe + flea

The compound is compositional: 'chigoe' names a specific kind of flea and 'flea' supplies the general insect category, so the combined phrase clearly denotes a particular small parasitic flea. This species-name + common-noun pattern is a straightforward, cross-linguistically common way to form referential noun phrases, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would be able to infer the meaning.

Etymology

Chigoe flea may come from a local word chigoe plus the word flea, and it gives a simple picture: a very small flea that burrows into the skin. That's why the name refers to a tiny biting bug that causes swelling, bad itching and sometimes infection.