flea

flea
flea O.E. flea, from P.Gmc. *flauhaz (Cf. O.N. flo, M.Du. vlo, Ger. Floh), perhaps related to O.E. fleon "to flee," with a notion of "the jumping parasite," or perhaps from PIE *plou- "flea" (Cf. L. pulex, Gk. psylla; see PUCE (Cf. puce)). Flea-bag "bed" is from 1839; flea circus is from 1886; flea collar is from 1953.
"A man named 'Mueller' put on the first trained-flea circus in America at the old Stone and Austin museum in Boston nearly forty years ago. Another German named 'Auvershleg' had the first traveling flea circus in this country thirty years ago. In addition to fairs and museums, I get as high as $25 for a private exhibition." ["Professor" William Heckler, quoted in "Popular Mechanics," February 1928. Printed at the top of his programs were "Every action is visible to the naked eye" and "No danger of desertion."]

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Flea — Michael Balzary Flea sur scène Naissance 16 octobre 1962 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Flea — Flea, n. [OE. fle, flee, AS. fle[ a], fle[ a]h; akin to D. vtoo, OHG. fl[=o]h, G. floh, Icel. fl[=o], Russ. blocha; prob. from the root of E. flee. [root]84. See {Flee}.] (Zo[ o]l.) An insect belonging to the genus {Pulex}, of the order… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • flea — ► NOUN ▪ a small wingless jumping insect which feeds on the blood of mammals and birds. ● (as) fit as a flea Cf. ↑fit as a flea ● a flea in one s ear Cf. ↑a flea in one s ear ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • FLEA — (Heb. פַּרְעֹשׁ, parosh). The flea symbolizes an insignificant, loathsome creature (I Sam. 24:15; 26:20). Nevertheless, the ancients did not refrain from calling themselves parosh, and this was the name of a Judahite family that came with Ezra to …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • flea — [flē] n. [ME fle < OE fleah, akin to Ger floh < same Gmc base as FLEE] 1. any of an order (Siphonaptera) of small, flattened, wingless insects with large legs adapted for jumping: as adults they are bloodsucking parasites on mammals and… …   English World dictionary

  • Flea — (fl[=e]), v. t. [See {Flay}.] To flay. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] He will be fleaed first And horse collars made of s skin. J. Fletcher. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • flea — [fli:] n [: Old English;] 1.) a very small insect without wings that jumps and bites animals and people to eat their blood ▪ Are you sure the dog has fleas ? 2.) send sb off with a flea in their ear BrE to talk angrily to someone, especially… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • flea — [ fli ] noun count a small jumping insect that lives on animals and bites them …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • flea|y — «FLEE ee», adjective. full of fleas: »a fleay kennel …   Useful english dictionary

  • Flea — Michael Peter Balzary, mit Künstlernamen Flea, (* 16. Oktober 1962 in Burwood (Vorort von Melbourne), Australien) ist Bassist der US amerikanischen Crossover/Funk Rock Band Red Hot Chili Peppers, Studio Musiker und Gelegenheitsschauspieler.… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”