Tick, n. [OE. tike, teke; akin to D. teek, G. zecke. Cf. Tike a tick.]
(Zoöl.) (a) Any one of numerous species of large parasitic mites which
attach themselves to, and suck the blood of, cattle, dogs, and many
other animals. When filled with blood they become ovate, much swollen,
and usually livid red in color. Some of the species often attach
themselves to the human body. The young are active and have at first
but six legs. (b) Any one of several species of dipterous insects
having a flattened and usually wingless body, as the bird ticks (see
under Bird) and sheep tick (see under Sheep).
Tick bean, a small bean used for feeding horses and other animals. —
Tick trefoil (Bot.), a name given to many plants of the leguminous
genus Desmodium, which have trifoliate leaves, and joined pods
roughened with minute hooked hairs by which the joints adhere to
clothing and to the fleece of sheep.
Tick, n. [LL. techa, teca, L. theca case, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to put. See
Thesis.] 1. The cover, or case, of a bed, mattress, etc., which
contains the straw, feathers, hair, or other filling.