body louse

noun

1. louse1

Word History and Origins

Origin of body louse¹

First recorded in 1565–75

Example Sentences

A new laboratory study suggests that human body lice are more efficient at transmitting Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes plague, than previously thought, supporting the possibility that they may have contributed to past pandemics.

From Science Daily

He was suffering from epidemic typhus, a disease spread through contact with infected body lice.

From BBC

Unlike the body louse, the head louse isn't known to spread disease.

From Salon

Colonies of it live in the digestive systems of body lice and are excreted in their feces.

From Washington Times

While it has long been maintained that the Black Death was spread through fleas from rats, many now believe it was spread through human fleas and body lice.

From Fox News