head louse

noun

: a sucking louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) that lives on the human scalp

Examples of head louse in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
June 12, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. EDT Listen 5 min Share Comment Save No more yearning for Apple to drop a chicken nugget or head louse emoji. Tatum Hunter, Washington Post, 12 June 2024 Genetic studies of lice indicate that clothing lice diverged from their human head louse ancestors at least 83,000 years ago and possibly as early as 170,000 years ago, which suggests humans were wearing clothes before major migrations out of Africa. Katie Hunt, CNN, 16 Sep. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of head louse was in 1547

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Cite this Entry

“Head louse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/head%20louse. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

head louse

noun
: a sucking louse that lives on the human scalp

Medical Definition

head louse

noun
: a sucking louse of the genus Pediculus (P. humanus capitis) that lives on the human scalp

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