flea

 
Pronunciation: /fliː/

noun

  • a small wingless jumping insect which feeds on the blood of mammals and birds. It sometimes transmits diseases through its bite, including plague and myxomatosis.
    • Order Siphonaptera: several families and many species, including the human flea (Pulex irritans)

Phrases

(as) fit as a flea

in very good health.

a flea in one's ear

a sharp reproof: she expected to be sent away with a flea in her ear

Origin:

Old English flēa, flēah, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vlo and German Floh