Why are they named lice? - briefly
The name comes from Old English lūs (singular) with the plural form līsa, which evolved into Middle English “lice.” It traces back to the Proto‑Germanic root lūsą, designating the small parasitic insect.
Why are they named lice? - in detail
Lice are small, wingless insects that live as ectoparasites on mammals and birds. Their common name derives from Old English lūs, a term recorded in the Anglo‑Saxon Chronicle and related to Proto‑Germanic lūsaz. The same root appears in Old Norse lúsi and Old High German lūs, indicating a shared Germanic origin for the word that designates these blood‑feeding parasites.
The Latin word pediculus (“little foot”) entered scientific nomenclature during the early development of taxonomy. Carl Linnaeus assigned the genus Pediculus to the human head louse, emphasizing its habit of clinging to the host’s skin with tiny claws. The genus name reflects the Latin diminutive of pes (“foot”), alluding to the insect’s six legs and its ability to grip tightly.
Scientific classification further distinguishes lice into two orders:
- Phthiraptera – the order encompassing all chewing and sucking lice.
- Anoplura – the suborder of sucking lice, which includes Pediculus and Pthirus (the pubic louse).
The term “lice” therefore originates from a Germanic lexical tradition, while the Latin‑based scientific names describe the insects’ morphology and parasitic behavior. Both linguistic streams converge on a description of a minute, leg‑bearing parasite that lives on the host’s body surface.