English

head louse

From head + louse.

Formed from head + louse

Proto-Indo-European *kap- ‘head’

…

Proto-Germanic *haubudą ‘head’

Proto-West Germanic *haubud

Old English hēafod ‘head’

Middle English heed ‘head’

English head

Proto-Germanic *lūs

Proto-West Germanic *lūs

Old English lūs

Middle English lous

English louse

Today it means

noun A parasitic insect, Pediculus humanus capitis, which lives among the hairs on the head of a human and feeds on blood.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / head louse