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. See chigger
   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

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

Sarcopsylla, sr-kop-sil′a, n. a genus of American insects, including the jigger or chigoe.

From Project Gutenberg

One of the most important of these is the jigger-flea or chigoe (Dermatophilus penetrans, Fig. 33).

From Project Gutenberg

Occasionally a gorilla or a chimpanzee may get a chigoe in its toe.

From Project Gutenberg

The chigoe (Dermatophilus penetrans) is a native originally of South America.

From Project Gutenberg