flea

UK: fliː | US: fliː

Definition

  1. n. A small, wingless, blood-sucking insect that feeds on mammals and birds, known for its jumping ability.

Structure

No data yet.

Etymology

The word "flea" traces back to Old English flēa, derived from Proto-Germanic flauhaz. It is a compact, ancient term with no further divisible morphemes in modern English. Its spelling and meaning have remained remarkably stable over centuries, reflecting its status as a core vocabulary word for a common natural organism.

Examples

  1. The dog scratched incessantly due to a flea infestation.

  2. Fleas can jump up to 200 times their body length.

  3. She used a special shampoo to kill the fleas on her cat.

  4. Medieval homes often struggled with flea-borne diseases.

  5. A single flea can lay hundreds of eggs in its lifetime.