flea

n. [ OE. fle, flee, AS. fleá, fleáh; akin to D. vtoo, OHG. flōh, G. floh, Icel. flō, Russ. blocha; prob. from the root of E. flee. √84. See Flee. ] (Zool.) An insect belonging to the genus Pulex, of the order Aphaniptera. Fleas are destitute of wings, but have the power of leaping energetically. The bite is poisonous to most persons. The human flea (Pulex irritans), abundant in Europe, is rare in America, where the dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis, formerly Pulex canis) and the smaller cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) take its place. See Aphaniptera, and Dog flea. See Illustration in Appendix. [ 1913 Webster ]

A flea in the ear, an unwelcome hint or unexpected reply, annoying like a flea; an irritating repulse; as, to put a flea in one's ear; to go away with a flea in one's ear. --
Beach flea,
Black flea, etc. See under Beach, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) One of various plants, supposed to have efficacy in driving away fleas. They belong, for the most part, to the genera Conyza, Erigeron, and Pulicaria. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A small beetle of the family Halticidæ, of many species. They have strong posterior legs and leap like fleas. The turnip flea-beetle (Phyllotreta vittata) and that of the grapevine (Graptodera chalybea) are common injurious species. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The bite of a flea, or the red spot caused by the bite. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A trifling wound or pain, like that of the bite of a flea. Harvey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Bitten by a flea; as, a flea-bitten face. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. White, flecked with minute dots of bay or sorrel; -- said of the color of a horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. same as creaky, 1. [ wns=1 ]
Syn. -- creaky, decrepit, run-down, rundown, woebegone. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

obs. imp. of Fly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A flake; a thread or twist. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Little long fleaks or threads of hemp. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A light covering of reeds, over which the main covering is laid, in thatching houses. [ Prov. Eng. ] Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]