4. Any small crustacean parasitic on fishes. See Branchiura, and
Ichthvophthira.
The term is also applied to various other parasites; as, the whale
louse, beelouse, horse louse.
Louse fly (Zoöl.), a parasitic dipterous insect of the group Pupipara.
Some of them are wingless, as the bee louse. -- Louse mite (Zoöl.), any
one of numerous species of mites which infest mammals and birds,
clinging to the hair and feathers like lice. They belong to Myobia,
Dermaleichus, Mycoptes, and several other genera.
Louse (louz), v. t. To clean from lice. "You sat and loused him."
Swift.
Louse"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) Any species of Pedicularis, a genus of
perennial herbs. It was said to make sheep that fed on it lousy.
Yellow lousewort , a plant of the genus Rhinanthus.
Lous"i*ly (?), adv. [From Lousy.] In a lousy manner; in a mean, paltry
manner; scurvily. [Vulgar]
Lous"i*ness, n. The state or quality of being lousy.
Lous"y (?), a. 1. Infested with lice.