louseとは

意味・読み方・使い方

語源

From Middle English lous, lows, lowse, from 古期英語 lūs, from Proto-Germanic *lūs (compare West Frisian lûs, Dutch luis, German Low German Luus, German Laus), from Proto-Indo-European *lewH- (compare Welsh llau (“lice”), Tocharian B luwo, maybe Sanskrit यूका (yūkā)).

発音

• (英国発音) IPA^(key): /laʊs/
• 韻: -aʊs

名詞

louse (複数形 lice または louses)

1. A small parasitic wingless insect of the order Psocodea.
2. (colloquial, dated, not usually used in 複数形 form) A contemptible person; one who is deceitful or causes harm.
   • 1946, Joseph Thompson Shaw, The hard-boiled omnibus: early stories from Black Mask (page 388)

     He said: "Thanks, friend; but you're wasting your time. You better warn Crocker. If that louse makes a play for me, he'll get hit with Chicago lightning!"

   • 1949, Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend (song)

     It's then that those louses go back to their spouses. Diamonds are a girl's best friend.

使用する際の注意点

• When used as a term of abuse, the plural is typically louses, though lice is also possible.

同意語

• (insect): (North America) cootie
• (contemptible person): maggot, worm

派生語

動詞

louse (三人称単数 現在形 louses, 現在分詞 lousing, 過去形および過去分詞形 loused)

1. To remove lice from; to delouse.
   • 1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, Sydney: Ure Smith, published 1962, page 108:

     There were a few wire-netted enclosures to keep young chickens from the hawks, but the fowls wandered at large, coming about the hut to ruffle their feathers in the dust, and louse themselves, and pick up scraps.

同意語

• delouse