mallophaga

2 definitions found

mallophaga - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Mallophaga \Mal*loph"a*ga\ (m[a^]l*l[o^]f"[.a]*g[.a]), n. pl.
     [NL., fr. Gr. mallo`s a lock of wool + fagei^n to eat.]
     (Zool.)
     An extensive group of insects which are parasitic on birds
     and mammals, and feed on the feathers and hair; -- called
     also bird lice. See Bird louse, under Bird.
     [1913 Webster]

mallophaga - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Mallophaga
      n 1: biting lice [syn: Mallophaga, order Mallophaga]