flea

Fleas are tiny, parasitic insects known for their ability to jump remarkable distances relative to their size. They feed on the blood of mammals and birds, causing itchy skin and, in some cases, spreading disease. They are often found where animals live or sleep, such as pet bedding, carpets, and other warm places.

Historically, fleas have been linked with poor living conditions and with disease, especially because rat fleas helped spread the bubonic plague. That history gives the word an unpleasant feeling, so it often brings to mind dirt, discomfort, and infestation.

Beyond its literal meaning, the word appears in a few set phrases. "To send someone away with a flea in their ear" means to send them off with an angry answer or sharp rebuke. "Flea market" means an open-air or informal market where old or secondhand goods are sold. The name is usually linked to the idea that used clothes or furniture might once have had tiny unwanted insects in them.

So, whether you are talking about a biting insect on a pet, a flea-ridden blanket, or a weekend flea market, the word "flea" usually suggests something tiny, troublesome, and hard to ignore.