flean.
/fliː/, U.S. /fli/ 1.
a. A small wingless insect (or genus of insects, Pulex, the common flea being P. irritans), well known for its biting propensities and its agility in leaping; it feeds on the blood of man and of some other animals.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Siphonaptera or fleas > [noun] > member of (flea)
fleaa700
lop1480
night-eater1626
jumper1771
bed-flea1774
siphonapteran1842
a700 Epinal Gloss. 813 Pulix, fleah.
c1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 264 Heo [gorst] cwelð þa flean.
c1305 Land Cokayne 37 Nis þer flei, fle, no lowse.
c1386 G. Chaucer Manciple's Prol. 17 Hast thou had fleen al night or artow dronke?
1547 A. Borde Breuiary of Helthe i. f. Cxiiiiv Flees, the which doth byte and stynge men in the beddes.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §696 Fleas breed principally of Straw or Mats.
1733 J. Swift On Poetry 20 So, Nat'ralists observe, a Flea Hath smaller Fleas that on him prey, And these have smaller Fleas to bite 'em, And so proceed ad infinitum.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1772 I. 381 The Counsel upon the circuit at Shrewsbury were much bitten by fleas.
1858 N. Hawthorne Fr. & Ital. Jrnls. I. 227 Fleas..in Rome come home to everybody's business and bosom.
1874 J. G. Wood Insects Abroad 771 The best-known foreign Flea, the Chigoe (Pulex penetrans).
b. As a type of anything small or contemptible.
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the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > paltry, mean, or contemptible
wretch?a1300
flea1388
figc1450
figo1589
fico1598
paltering1611
fig's enda1616
mockado1740
two pennyworth1851
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > smallness > [noun] > that which is small > a small thing > typical examples of
little fingerc1300
pear1340
hair1377
flea1388
a pin's head (also point)c1450
fitch1550
mouse1584
minnow1596
the pestle of a lark1598
nutshella1616
pinhead1662
pinpoint1670
rope yarn1751
bee's knee1797
peanut1864
postage stamp1881
1388 Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) 1 Sam. xxiv. 15 Thou pursuest a deed hound, and a quyk fle [1382 flyȝe].
a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Fox, Wolf, & Husbandman l. 2286 in Poems (1981) 86 For it is said in prouerb: ‘But lawte All vther vertewis ar nocht worth ane fle.’
?1553 (c1501) G. Douglas Palice of Honour (London) iii. l. 1947 in Shorter Poems (1967) 120 Langere (me thocht) thow had nothir fors..nor wyll for till haue greuyt a fla [1579 Edinb. Fla].
1857 R. Tomes Americans in Japan v. 126 These Lilliputian bumpers would not have floored a flea.
2. = flea-beetle n. at Compounds 2a.
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the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Coleoptera or beetles and weevils > [noun] > Polyphaga (omnivorous) > superfamily Phytophaga or Chrysomeloidea > family Chrysomelidae > member of genus Haltica (turnip-flea)
turnip-fly1733
flea1805
turnip-beetle1816
flea-beetle1842
turnip-flea1842
hop-flea1880
1805 R. W. Dickson Pract. Agric. II. 760 The hop-plant..is liable to be wholly devoured..by the ravages of the flea.
1842 C. W. Johnson Farmer's Encycl. 490/1 Fly in turnips (Altica nemorum)..It is sometimes called the black jack, and sometimes the flea, or black fly.
1860 J. Curtis Farm Insects List Engravings Altica nemorum, the Turnip fly or flea. Altica concinna, the Hop flea or beetle.
3. Applied, with defining word prefixed, to small crustaceans which leap like a flea: see sand flea n., water flea n. beach-flea (U.S.) = sand flea n.
ΚΠ
1888 Riverside Nat. Hist. II. 76 The ‘beach-fleas’ so common on the sandy beaches.
4. † b. Formerly also = anything that surprises or alarms, matter for disquietude or agitation of spirit: after French (avoir or mettre) la puce à l'oreille.
a. a flea in one's ear: said of a stinging or mortifying reproof, rebuff, or repulse, which sends one away discomfited: chiefly in to go (send, etc.) away with a flea in one's ear.
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the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > command to go away [verb (transitive)] > send away or dismiss > unceremoniously
to send packingc1450
trussa1500
to go (send, etc.) away with a flea in one's ear1577
to set packing1577
pack1589
ship1594
to send away with a fly in one's ear1606
to give a packing penny to1609
to pack off1693
to cut (also slip) the painter1699
to send about one's business1728
trundle1794
to send to the right about (also rightabouts)1816
bundle1823
to give the bucket to1863
shake1872
to give (a person) the finger1874
to give (a person) the pushc1886
to give (someone or something) the chuck1888
to give (someone) the gate1918
to get the (big) bird1924
to tie a can to (or on)1926
to give (a person) (his or her) running shoes1938
to give (someone) the Lonsdale1958
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > rebuke or reproof > [noun] > severe > instance of
choking pear1546
choke-pear1573
a flea in one's ear1577
rattle1652
juniper letter1655
juniper lecture1706
siserary1771
wig1789
a word of a sort1796
rowing1812
wigging1813
sloan1823
scorcher1842
rubdowna1846
tickler1846
slating1881
bawl-out1926
earful1929
caning1933
a kick in the pants1933
rollicking1938
rocket1941
bollocking1946
butt-kicking1970
1577 tr. ‘F. de L'Isle’ Legendarie sig. Bvjv Sending them away with fleas in their eares, vtterly disapointed of their purpose.
1586 J. Dee Let. 14 May in True & Faithful Relation Spirits (1659) i. 423 [He] at length had such his answer, that he is gone to Rome with a flea in his eare, that disquieteth him.
a1640 F. Beaumont et al. Loves Cure iii. iii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Rrrrr4/1 He went away with a flea in's eare, Like a poore cur.
1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull Still in Senses vi. 25 We being stronger than they, sent them away with a Flea in their Ear.
1740 S. Richardson Pamela I. xxii. 56 I was hurrying out, with a Flea in my Ear, as the Saying is.
1838 C. K. Sharpe Corr. (1888) II. 510 [He] came off unvictorious with a flea in his ear.
1887 H. R. Haggard Jess xiii. 123 I sent him off with a flea in his ear, I can tell you.
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the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > causing apprehension or alarm > [noun] > alarm > something that alarms
fleac1430
fear1535
terrification1771
caution1834
c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) ii. xxxix. 91 And manye oothere grete wundres [ye haue seyd] whiche ben fleen in myne eres [Fr. puces es oreilles].
1656 B. Harris tr. J. N. de Parival Hist. Iron Age i. i. ix. 17 The Protestants..have made Leagues to uphold themselves, and put a flea into the eare of France.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a. † flea-catcher n. Obsolete
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1806 in Spirit of Public Jrnls. (1807) 10 221 Bug Destroyer to His Majesty, and Flea Catcher in general.
flea-feeder n.
ΚΠ
1607 N. Breton Wits Private Wealth sig. B4 They that loue their beds are great Flea-feeders.
flea-skinning n.
ΚΠ
1860 G. A. Sala Lady Chesterfield's Lett. v. 81 This..pebble-peeling flea-skinning principle.
b.
flea-brown adj.
ΚΠ
1806 R. Patterson Adams's Lect. Nat. & Exper. Philos. (rev. ed.) I. App. 538 The peroxide [of lead] may be precipitated of a brilliant flea-brown colour.
flea-coloured adj.
ΚΠ
1776 C. Anstey Election Ball (ed. 2) 55 A new-fashion'd Flea-colour'd Coat.
C2.
a. Special combinations. † flea-trap n. Obsolete in quot. an opprobrious epithet applied to a person.
flea-beetle n. a small leaping beetle of the genus Haltica, the species of which ravage hops, grapevines, turnips, and other plants.
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the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Coleoptera or beetles and weevils > [noun] > Polyphaga (omnivorous) > superfamily Phytophaga or Chrysomeloidea > family Chrysomelidae > member of genus Haltica (turnip-flea)
turnip-fly1733
flea1805
turnip-beetle1816
flea-beetle1842
turnip-flea1842
hop-flea1880
1842 C. W. Johnson Farmer's Encycl. 490/1 Fly in turnips (Altica nemorum),..a species of flea-beetle, which attacks the turnip crop.
flea-bug n. U.S. = flea-beetle n.
ΚΠ
1877 4th Rep. Vermont State Board Agric. 1876–7 158 It is very lively in its movements, and is sometimes called flea-bug.
flea circus n. originally U.S. a show of performing fleas.
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society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > animal performance > [noun]
hippodrama1811
flea circus1928
1928 Amer. Mag. May 67/1 Professor Heckler's Trained Fleas... Tiny golden carts rattled merrily across the strip of white blotting paper. The first act in the flea circus was under way.
1932 Screenland Apr. 89/1 Shooting galleries, the flea circus, and ending the spree by having their pictures made.
1936 W. H. Auden & C. Isherwood Ascent of F6 (1937) ii. iii When I was at school, I tried to keep a flea circus.
1950 Oxf. Junior Encycl. IX. 369/1 ‘Flea Circuses’, which are still to be seen at fairs—the main attraction usually being a chariot race between fleas attached by wire to tiny aluminium chariots.
1953 J. Cary Except the Lord xviii. 80 The cheapjack men,..the freaks and the flea circus.
flea collar n. a collar (for a dog or cat) impregnated with a substance that kills fleas.
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the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > pest control > [noun] > device for catching or killing fleas
tormentor1609
flea-powder1699
flea collar1953
the world > health and disease > healing > veterinary medicine and surgery > [noun] > veterinary equipment > other specific equipment
button iron1566
stopping pan1566
probang1657
searcher1834
flea collar1953
1953 Pets & Pet Shop Management Dec. 5/2 A new type of flea preventive is now being introduced—the Ace Flea Collar for dogs... A Flea Collar for cats is said to be under way.., the collar now available is for dogs only.
1975 Schneck & Norris Cat Care §65 During the flea season..the cat should wear a flea collar (available from pet shops).
flea-hopper n. U.S. any of various jumping species of bugs of the family Miridæ, esp. (a) the garden flea-hopper (genus Halticus), a small black bug that sucks sap from garden plants; (b) the cotton flea-hopper, Psallus seriatus, a small green sucking insect that attacks cotton.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > subclass Pterygota > [noun] > division Exopterygota or Hemimetabola > order Hemiptera > suborder Heteroptera > member of Capsidae or Miridae > member of genus Halticus (flea-hopper)
flea-hopper1902
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > subclass Pterygota > [noun] > division Exopterygota or Hemimetabola > order Hemiptera > suborder Heteroptera > member of Capsidae or Miridae > psallus seriatus (flea-hopper)
flea-hopper1902
1902 L. O. Howard Insect Bk. 301 Halticus uhleri Giard, known as the ‘garden flea-hopper’, is common in gardens and is injurious to flowers and vegetables.
1920 Jrnl. Agric. Res. 15 Mar. 485 The cotton flea hopper, Psallus seriatus Reuter,..has only recently become important as a cotton pest.
1926 Jrnl. Econ. Entomol. Feb. 106 The natural hosts of the cotton flea-hopper are various species of Croton.
1959 T. R. E. Southwood & D. Leston Land & Water Bugs Brit. Isles ix. 244 The North American garden fleahopper Halticus bracteatus (Say), is often a serious pest of clovers or lucerne.
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Categories »
flea-louse n. a leaping plant-louse of the family Psyllidæ.
flea-lugged adj. Scottish unsettled, harebrained (Jamieson).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > mental wandering > light-mindedness > [adjective]
lightlyeOE
lightOE
lightsomea1425
flying1509
light-minded?1529
tickle or light of the sear?1530
giddya1547
light-headed1549
gidded1563
giddish1566
fling-brained1570
tickle-headed1583
toyish1584
shallow1594
leger1598
corky1601
barmy1602
airy1609
unfirma1616
unballast1622
cork-brained1630
unballasted1644
kickshawa1655
unserious1655
unstudious1663
flirtishc1665
caper-witteda1670
shatter-headedc1686
corky-brained1699
flea-lugged1724
halokit1724
shatter-brained1727
scattered-brained1747
shatter-witted1775
flippant1791
butterfly-brained1796
scatter-brained1804
gossamer1806
shandy-pated1806
shattery1820
barmy-brained1823
papilionaceous1832
flirtatious1834
flirty1840
Micawberish1859
scatterheaded1867
flibberty-gibberty1879
thistledown1897
shatter-pated1901
trivial-minded1905
scattery1924
fizgig1928
ditzy1979
1724 A. Ramsay Tea-table Misc. (1733) I. 90 Wi flae-lugged sharny-fac'd Lawrie.
1823 J. Galt Entail III. vii. 70 Yon flea-luggit thing, Jamie.
flea market n. [compare French marché aux puces, in Paris] colloquial term applied jocularly to a street market.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > trading place > market > [noun] > street market
street market1833
thieves' market1873
flea market1922
1922 G. S. Dougherty In Europe 130 It is called the ‘Flea’ Market because there are so many second hand articles sold of all kinds that they are believed to gather fleas.
1960 N. Mitford Don't tell Alfred xx. 213 He must learn to clean and crate and pack the object as well as to discover it and purchase it and resell it. From flea-market to Jayne Wrightsman's boudoir.
1970 New Yorker 15 Aug. 62/2 The preservation of the open-air flea market.
fleapit n. colloquial an allegedly verminous place of public assembly, e.g. a cinema.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > place of amusement or entertainment > [noun] > verminous place of entertainment
fleapit1937
1937 Daily Herald 3 Feb. 12/4 Even the patrons of these palaces [sc. cinemas] referred to them as ‘flea-pits’.
1937 Daily Herald 3 Feb. 12/4 A peaked service cap with the name of the flea pit written on the band in gold braid.
1971 Ink 12 June 14/4 He went to a fleapit cinema.
flea-powder n. a remedy against fleas.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > pest control > [noun] > device for catching or killing fleas
tormentor1609
flea-powder1699
flea collar1953
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > remedies for parasitic infections > [noun] > flea-powder
flea-powder1699
1699 Poor Robin A iv Since Scoggin found out his Flea-Powder.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > inferior person > [noun] > as abused
warlockOE
swinec1175
beastc1225
wolf's-fista1300
avetrolc1300
congeonc1300
dirtc1300
slimec1315
snipec1325
lurdanc1330
misbegetc1330
sorrowa1350
shrew1362
jordan1377
wirlingc1390
frog?a1400
warianglea1400
wretcha1400
horcop14..
turdc1400
callet1415
lotterela1450
paddock?a1475
souter1478
chuff?a1500
langbain?c1500
cockatrice1508
sow1508
spink1508
wilrone1508
rook?a1513
streaker?a1513
dirt-dauber?1518
marmoset1523
babiona1529
poll-hatcheta1529
bear-wolf1542
misbegotten1546
pig1546
excrement1561
mamzer1562
chuff-cat1563
varlet1566
toada1568
mandrake1568
spider1568
rat1571
bull-beef1573
mole-catcher1573
suppository1573
curtal1578
spider-catcher1579
mongrela1585
roita1585
stickdirta1585
dogfish1589
Poor John1589
dog's facec1590
tar-boxa1592
baboon1592
pot-hunter1592
venom1592
porcupine1594
lick-fingers1595
mouldychaps1595
tripe1595
conundrum1596
fat-guts1598
thornback1599
land-rat1600
midriff1600
stinkardc1600
Tartar1600
tumbril1601
lobster1602
pilcher1602
windfucker?1602
stinker1607
hog rubber1611
shad1612
splay-foot1612
tim1612
whit1612
verdugo1616
renegado1622
fish-facea1625
flea-trapa1625
hound's head1633
mulligrub1633
nightmare1633
toad's-guts1634
bitch-baby1638
shagamuffin1642
shit-breech1648
shitabed1653
snite1653
pissabed1672
bastard1675
swab1687
tar-barrel1695
runt1699
fat-face1740
shit-sack1769
vagabond1842
shick-shack1847
soor1848
b1851
stink-pot1854
molie1871
pig-dog1871
schweinhund1871
wind-sucker1880
fucker1893
cocksucker1894
wart1896
so-and-so1897
swine-hound1899
motherfucker1918
S.O.B.1918
twat1922
mong1926
mucker1929
basket1936
cowson1936
zombie1936
meatball1937
shower1943
chickenshit1945
mugger1945
motherferyer1946
hooer1952
morpion1954
mother1955
mother-raper1959
louser1960
effer1961
salaud1962
gunk1964
scunge1967
a1625 J. Fletcher Bonduca ii. iii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Gggg3v/2 Daughter. Are they not our tormentors? Car. Tormentors? Flea-traps.
1681 T. Otway Souldiers Fortune v. i. 55 Do you long to be ferking of man's flesh, Madam Flea-trap?
b. In various plant-names.† flea-seed n. Obsolete Plantago Psyllium.
flea-dock n. the butter-bur ( Petasites vulgaris).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Compositae (composite plants) > [noun] > butterbur
butterbur1548
petasites1548
flea-dock1597
pestilent-wort1597
pestilence-wort1640
1597 J. Gerard Herball App. Fleadocke is Petasites.
1847 J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words I Flea-dock, the herb butter-burr.
flea-grass n. Carex pulicaris.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > reedy or aquatic grasses > [noun] > sedges
starc1300
carexa1398
float-grassc1440
red sedge1480
sag1531
pry grassa1600
flea-grass1670
star-grass1782
sedge1785
sea sedge1796
sharp-pry-grass1803
blue star grass1807
whip-grass1814
flea-sedge1816
saw-grass1822
mud rush1824
tight-locka1825
nut grass1830
razor grass1834
twig-rush1836
nut rush1843
sand grass1856
mud sedge1859
niggerhead1859
nutsedge1861
pingao1867
sword-rush1875
tupak-grass1884
tussock-sedge1884
sennegrass1897
nigger's-head1921
1670 J. Ray Catalogus Plantarum Angliæ 148 Flea-grass. This was so denominated by Mr. Goodyer, because the seeds..do in shape and colour somewhat resemble Fleas.
flea-sedge n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > reedy or aquatic grasses > [noun] > sedges
starc1300
carexa1398
float-grassc1440
red sedge1480
sag1531
pry grassa1600
flea-grass1670
star-grass1782
sedge1785
sea sedge1796
sharp-pry-grass1803
blue star grass1807
whip-grass1814
flea-sedge1816
saw-grass1822
mud rush1824
tight-locka1825
nut grass1830
razor grass1834
twig-rush1836
nut rush1843
sand grass1856
mud sedge1859
niggerhead1859
nutsedge1861
pingao1867
sword-rush1875
tupak-grass1884
tussock-sedge1884
sennegrass1897
nigger's-head1921
1816–20 T. Green Universal Herbal I. 252 Carex Pulicaris Flea Sedge, or Flea Grass.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Plantaginaceae > [noun]
waybreadeOE
ribeOE
psylliumOE
waybread leafOE
plantaina1325
herb Ivec1386
ersworta1400
psyllya1425
flea-seed1562
buck's-horn plantain1578
fleabane1578
hartshorn1578
lamb's tongue1578
rose plantain1597
rose ribwort1597
globularia1728
fire-leaves1796
ribwort1846
hoary plantain1861
goatweed1864
hartshorn plantain-
1562 W. Turner 2nd Pt. Herball f. 105v Psillium..may be well called fleasede or fleawurt because ye sede is very lyke vnto a fle.
flea-weed n. local name for Galium verum.
ΚΠ
1889 Alden's Manifold Cycl. Knowledge XIV. 559 Flea-weed, in bot., Galium verum.
flea-wood n. (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > shrubs > myrica and allies > [noun]
galec1000
Dutch myrtle1597
sweet willow1597
gow1598
sweet-gale1640
candle-tree1692
candleberry tree1731
tallow shrub1770
myrica1791
wax-tree1791
wax-plant1801
wax-myrtle1813
Comptonia1823
tallow-bush1835
wax-berry1835
sweet fern1849
bog myrtle1866
meadow fern1876
flea-wood1892
1892 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words Flea-wood, the bog myrtle or sweet gale, Myrica Gale. A housewife's cure for fleas.
Draft additions 1993
Colloquial phrase (as) fit as a flea, fine, very fit. Cf. as fit as a fiddle at fiddle n. Phrases.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > [adjective] > of health: good > fit
well-breatheda1425
long-breatheda1513
fitly1570
long-winded1578
as fit as a fiddle1603
toned1745
well-braced1859
fit1869
(as) fit as a flea1889
fighting-fit1891
pinkish1949
aerobicized1983
1889 J. Nicholson Folk Speech E. Yorkshire iii. 19 As fit as a flea, as ready and eager as a flea for blood.
1908 R. Herbert When Diamonds were Trumps ix. 108 He'll take you along and you'll be as fit as a flea.
1921 J. Galsworthy To Let i. xii. 115 Happy was Jack Cardigan who snored into Imogen's white shoulder, fit as a flea.
1955 ‘N. Shute’ Requiem for Wren iv. 122 I'll..tell her that you're as fit as a flea and having the time of your life.
1990 Sun 20 Oct. 13/1 I'm fit as a flea now—and the blotches have gone!
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
fleav.
/fliː/, U.S. /fli/ transitive. To rid of fleas, remove fleas from.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > pest control > remove vermin from [verb (transitive)] > remove insects from > remove fleas from
fleaa1610
a1610 J. Healey tr. Theophrastus Characters (1636) 79 He sweepes the house and fleas the beds himselfe.
1700 W. Congreve Way of World iv. i. 62 Go flea Dogs, and read Romances.
1884 R. Holland Gloss. Words County of Chester (1886) at Fleck ‘Her father had gone up to fleck the bed.’
1920 T. S. Eliot Ara Vos Prec 15 Who clipped the lion's wings And flea'd his rump and pared his claws?
1930 E. Waugh Labels 100 A pet monkey..fleaed its rump on the terrace.
1932 W. H. Auden Orators i. 21 The dog fleaing itself in the hot dust.
1937 Sunday Times 18 Apr. 8/4 She had the kind of vitality which is ready to start an open-air meeting at Hampstead with an audience of a policeman and a dog fleaing itself.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.a700
v.a1610