whale louse en · NOUN
Meanings
-
A parasitic amphipod crustacean of the family Cyamidae found in skin lesions, genital folds, nostrils and eyes of marine mammals of the order Cetacea, i.e. whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Crablike whale lice dig deeply into sores and cuts.
1971 Mar, National Geographic, page 411:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| whale lice | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| whalelouse | alternative | lexicographic | |
| whale-louse | alternative | lexicographic |
Synonyms
Translations (4)
fi valaantäi (parasitic crustacean of the family Cyamidae) · ru кито́вая вошь (parasitic crustacean of the family Cyamidae) · fr pou de baleine (parasitic crustacean of the family Cyamidae) · pl wesz wielorybia (parasitic crustacean of the family Cyamidae)