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.

同意語

• delouse