flea-biten.
/ˈfliːbʌɪt/, U.S. /ˈfliˌbaɪt/ 1. The bite of a flea; the red spot caused by it.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > [noun] > wound > stings or bites
stingc900
stinging1398
biting1527
flea-bite1570
flea-biting1598
bite1736
bug bite1739
snip1767
stangc1800
myiasis1839
snake-bite1839
tooth-wound1899
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Miiiv/2 A Fleabit, morsus culicis.
1769 W. Buchan Domest. Med. ii. 254 The small pox..begin to appear... At first they very nearly resemble flea-bites.
1801 R. Southey in J. W. Robberds Mem. W. Taylor (1843) I. 378 I am used to flea-bites, and never scratch a pimple to a sore.
1884 New Sydenham Soc. Lexicon (at cited word) Flea-bites have been mistaken for..the rash of typhoid, and other appearances.
2. figurative. 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 n. 2.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > mental anguish or torment > [noun] > minor
flea-biting1553
flea-bite1577
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > [noun] > a disadvantage > minor
flea-biting1553
flea-bite1577
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little importance or trivial > types of
venialc1380
nutshalea1393
nutshella1400
flea-biting1553
flea-bite1577
nothing1577
epitomea1593
quilicoma1644
ephemera1751
pinprick1853
bibelot1873
piffle1884
peanut1910
popcorn1964
trivia1968
factoid1982
c1440 W. Hylton Scala Perfeccionis (1494) i. xxxviii The felynge of thyse temptacions fyleth the soule nomore than yf they herde an hounde berke, or a flee byte.]
1577 N. Breton Floorish vpon Fancie sig. Fiijv When all these pangues are but Flea bytes to myne.
1630 J. Taylor Water-cormorant sig. D2 If they doe lose by Pirates, tempests, rocks, Tis but a Flea bite to their wealthy stocks.
a1656 Bp. J. Hall Shaking of Olive-tree (1660) i. 2 The greatest bodily sicknesses were but Flea-bites to those Scorpions.
1779 G. Keate Sketches from Nature I. 64 The labours of Hercules were a flea-bite to it.
1862 G. A. Sala Seven Sons Mammon 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 adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Canidae > dog > [noun] > defined by colour > markings
flea-biting1598
flea-bite1681
tick spot1704
point1873
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > colour or marking > [noun] > mark or streak > reddish spot
flea-biting1598
meanela1637
flea-bite1681
1681 London Gaz. No. 1608/4 A middle-size White Spaniel Dog..with two reddish Ears full of little Fleabits.
1690 London Gaz. No. 2571/4 A dapple-grey Mare..with red Flea-bites about her Head and Neck.
4. attributive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > of little importance or trivial
eathlyc890
lighteOE
littleOE
small?c1225
singlec1449
easy1474
triflous1509
naughty1526
slender1530
slight1548
shrimpish1549
slipper1567
truanta1572
toyous1581
trivious1583
mean1585
silly1587
nicea1594
puny?1594
puisne1598
pusill1599
whindling1601
sapless1602
non-significant1603
poor1603
unsignificant1603
flea-bite1605
perishing1605
lank1607
weightless1610
fonda1616
penny farthing1615
triviala1616
unweighty1621
transitory1637
twattling1651
inconsiderate1655
unserious1655
nugal1656
small drink1656
slighty1662
minute1668
paddling1679
snitling1682
retail1697
Lilliputian1726
vain1731
rattletrap1760
peppercornish1762
peppercorn1791
underling1804
venial1806
lightweight1809
floccinaucical1826
small-bore1833
minified1837
trantlum1838
piffling1848
tea-tabular1855
potty1860
whipping-snapping1861
tea-gardeny1862
quiddling1863
twaddling1863
fidgeting1865
penny ante1865
feather-weighted1870
jerkwater1877
midget1879
mimsy1880
shirttail1881
two-by-four1885
footle1894
skittery1905
footery1929
Mickey Mouse1931
chickenshit1934
minoritized1945
marginal1952
marginalized1961
tea-party1961
little league1962
marginalizing1977
minnowy1991
1605 N. Breton Honour of Valour xiii. 5 in Wks. (1966) I When mortal wounds doe shew but flea-bite smarts.
Derivatives
flea-bite v. transitive. ‘To cover with bites of fleas’ (Hyde Clarke 1855).
flea-biter n. one who bites like a flea; in quot. 1629 figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irritation > [noun] > action of irritating > cause of irritation > one who or that which irritates
fly?c1225
terrer1382
prickc1384
taryerc1440
stub1531
provokera1542
a mote in the eye1546
annoying1566
nettler1611
gadfly1622
flea-biter1629
exasperator1632
badgerer?1791
irritator1855
needler1874
nagger1881
holy terror1883
knob1920
jerkface1942
needle artist1982
d-bag1984
knob-end1989
hater1996
1629 J. Gaule Distractions 324 Wearish Wretch; so like a Flea-biter hee lookes.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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