What is the singular term for lice? - briefly
The singular form of the insect commonly called lice is “louse.” This term refers to an individual member of the Pediculidae family.
What is the singular term for lice? - in detail
The singular noun for lice is “louse.” A louse is a small, wingless, parasitic insect of the order Phthiraptera that lives on the bodies of mammals and birds. In English, the word follows an irregular plural pattern: singular “louse,” plural “lice.”
Lice belong to two main suborders: Anoplura (the sucking lice) and Mallophaga (the chewing lice). Both groups have adapted mouthparts for feeding on blood or skin debris. The term “louse” is used in scientific literature, medical texts, and pest‑control guidelines to refer to an individual parasite, while “lice” denotes a population or multiple individuals.
Etymology traces “louse” to Old English lūs, related to German Laus and Latin lūcus, all meaning the same insect. The irregular plural arose historically from a Germanic sound change that affected several nouns (e.g., mouse/mice, goose/geese).
Key points:
- Singular: louse
- Plural: lice
- Taxonomic order: Phthiraptera
- Suborders: Anoplura (blood‑sucking), Mallophaga (chewing)
- Origin: Old English lūs
Proper usage in sentences distinguishes the single organism (“The patient has a head louse”) from multiple organisms (“The infestation involves many lice”).