flea-bitten

[ flee-bit-n ]

adjective

1. bitten by a flea or fleas.
2. infested with fleas.
3. shabby; dilapidated; wretched.
4. (of a horse) having a light-colored coat with small, dark spots or streaks.

flea-bitten

adjective

1. bitten by or infested with fleas
2. informal.
   shabby or decrepit; mean
3. (of the coat of a horse) having reddish-brown spots on a lighter background

Word History and Origins

Origin of flea-bitten¹

First recorded in 1560–70

Example Sentences

After living in the shack for decades, Rupke was allowed to move into the caregiver’s house, where he slept in a room with the man’s flea-bitten dogs, according to the lawsuit.

From Seattle Times

The darkness came, and he sprawled out at the foot of the huge bed, taking up more than half of it with his mangy, flea-bitten form.

From Literature

As the door slammed and he was driven away to spend the night sleeping under a flea-bitten sheet in a frigid Mexican detention centre, Ryan begged a passer-by for help.

From The Guardian

As we reduce and affect their natural habitats, will we be left with big cats as flea-bitten, oversized but potentially deadly kittens?

From The Guardian

Israel isn't a pariah, except maybe in the dusty, flea-bitten capitals of places like Sudan, Syria and North Korea.

From New York Times