Flea1, v. t.
(flee), v. t. [See supra.] To flay. [Obs.] *He will be fleaed first And horse-collars made of 's skin. Fletcher.*
2 entries under this word
Flea
Flea2, n.
n. [A-S. fleá, Scot. flech, Icel. flō, N. H. Ger. flōh, M. H. Ger. vlōch, D. vloo, allied to Lat. pulex, Slav. blocha.] (Entom.) An insect of the genus Pulex, remarkable for its agility and troublesome bite.
The common flea is the Pulex irritans; the chigoe, or chique, of the West Indies and South America is the Pulex penetrans.
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.—To have a flea in the ear, to fail in some scheme in a way to throw ridicule on the person attempting it; also, to receive an unwelcome hint or annoying suggestion.