chigoe

[ chig-oh ]

noun

1. a flea, Tunga penetrans, of tropical America and Africa, the impregnated female of which embeds itself in the skin, especially of the feet, of humans and animals and becomes greatly distended with eggs.

chigoe

/ ˈtʃɪɡəʊ /

noun

1. Also calledchiggerjiggersand flea a tropical flea, Tunga penetrans, the female of which lives on or burrows into the skin of its host, which includes man
2. another name for chigger

Word History and Origins

Origin of chigoe¹

Borrowed into English from Carib around 1685–95

Word History and Origins

Origin of chigoe¹

C17: from Carib chigo

Example Sentences

"Chiggerfoot" takes its name from the chigoe, chigger, or jigger, the minute flea which burrows into the foot.

From Project Gutenberg

Many of the children sitting idle in their homes or clutching saggy soccer balls on the beach have their feet chewed up by chigoes, the tiny fleas that lay eggs under people’s toenails.

From New York Times

From a review of a book by Mr. Harold Russell:— "The horrible chigoes, or 'jiggers,' are of the flea family, and with them we must leave Mr. Russell."

From Project Gutenberg

It is like the red "chigoe" which inserts his tiny head in the flesh and burrows until he causes a throbbing fester.

From Project Gutenberg

They will not live together, but every chigoe sets up a separate ulcer, and has his own private portion of pus.

From Project Gutenberg