deflea
English edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Verb edit
deflea (third-person singular simple present defleas, present participle defleaing, simple past and past participle defleaed)
- (transitive) To rid of fleas.
- I had to deflea our cat with a flea comb, even though it wears a flea collar.
- 1948, University of Florida Publications in Experimental Applied Economics, volume 3, page 124:
- The DDT powder does not kill the rats; it merely defleas them and lessens the likelihood of the spread of typhus fever from rat to man.
- 1969, Elizabeth Charles, How to Keep Your Pet Healthy[1], page 99:
- A fine metal flea comb is an added aid in defleaing a cat, especially if you are the type who gains satisfaction from “cracking” fleas caught in the comb, or from trying to drown them in a glass of water!
- 1977, The New York Times Biographical Service, volume 8, page 57:
- She cares personally for her dogs, feeds them, defleas them, shouts crossly at them when they misbehave.
- 1986, Pure-bred Dogs American Kennel Gazette, volume 103, page 95:
- House, kennels, bedding, runs, all have to be defleaed, as well as the dogs. Note: If the dogs have to be wormed, it is wise to postpone any defleaing efforts for three weeks after worming.
- 1989, Stuart Brent, Seven Stairs: An Adventure of the Heart[2], page 132:
- I had my own dog, but I also caught every stray dog in the neighborhood, washed and defleaed it, and anointed it with cologne (causing a great rumpus when discovered by one of my sisters from whom the cheap scent had been appropriated).
- 2008, Bev Cooke., Feral, page 17:
- I can get her defleaed. That wouldn't be a problem. I can pay for it now that I've got an after-school job. And Mom's a sucker for strays.
- 2009, Louis de Bernières, The Death of Miss Agatha Feakes, [originally published in 2009, Notwithstanding], Storycuts, 2011, unnumbered page,
- She sits in her armchair, and, one by one, she defleas her cats.
Translations edit
to rid of fleas