| 释义 |
ˈflea-bite
[f. flea n. + bite n.]
1. The bite of a flea; the red spot caused by it.
1570Levins Manip. 149/27 A Fleabit, morsus culicis. 1789W. Buchan Dom. Med. (1790) 215 The small pox..begin to appear..At first they very nearly resemble flea⁓bites. 1801Southey in Robberds Mem. W. Taylor I. 378, I am used to flea-bites, and never scratch a pimple to a sore. 1884Syd. Soc. Lex. s.v., Flea-bites have been mistaken for..the rash of typhoid, and other appearances.
2. fig. Anything that causes only slight pain; a trifling inconvenience or discomfort; a hurt, loss, accident, etc. of very small consequence or importance; a mere trifle. (Cf. flea-biting 2.)
[c1440Hylton Scala Perf. (W. de W. 1494) i. xxxviii, The felynge of thyse temptacions fyleth the soule nomore than yf they herde an hounde berke, or a flee byte.] 1582Breton Floorish vpon Fancie (Grosart) 25/1 When all these pangues are but Flea-bytes to mine. 1630J. Taylor (Water P.) Brood Cormorants, Cutpurse 12 If they doe lose by Pirates, tempests, rocks, 'Tis but a Fleabite to their wealthy stockes. a1656Bp. Hall Rem. Wks. (1660) 2 The greatest bodily sicknesses were but Flea-bites to those scorpions. 1779G. Keate Sketches Nat. I. 64 The labours of Hercules were a flea-bite to it. 1862Sala Seven Sons I. vii. 169 The money was a mere flea-bite, a miserable fifty.
3. A small reddish spot on a horse or dog, resembling the mark made by the bite of a flea. Cf. flea-bitten 2.
1681Lond. Gaz. No. 1608/4 A middle-size White Spaniel Dog..with two reddish Ears full of little Fleabits. 1690Ibid. No. 2571/4 A dapple-grey Mare..with red Flea-bites about her Head and Neck.
4. attrib.
1605Breton Honour of Valour xiii, When mortal wounds doe shew but flea-bite smarts.
Hence flea-bite v. trans. ‘To cover with bites of fleas’ (Hyde Clarke 1855). flea-biter, one who bites like a flea; in quot. fig.
1629Gaule Holy Madn. 324 Wearish Wretch; so like a Flea-biter hee lookes. |