Small parasitic insects that live on skin or hair and cause itching; plural of louse.
From Old English 'lūs' (singular) becoming 'lȳs' (plural), from Proto-Germanic 'lūs,' cognate with Dutch 'luis,' an ancient word likely representing actual experience of infestation.
Lice have been part of human history forever—Egyptian mummies show they had lice, and historically they were so common that finding them in your hair was just a normal part of childhood rather than a shameful thing.
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