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Definition of woodlouse

woodlouse

/ˈwʊd.laʊs/
wood · louse
Plural:woodlice
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woodlouse Lexical Profile

woodlouse Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of various small terrestrial crustaceans of the suborder Oniscidea having a flattened, segmented, gray-brown shell and seven pairs of legs, commonly found in damp habitats under decaying wood or stones and often capable of rolling into a defensive ball.

Example

"When we lifted the damp log in the garden, a tiny woodlouse curled itself into a tight gray sphere."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for woodlouse

• Nearby Words

woodless
woodlore
woodlot
woodlouse
woodman
woodmouse
woodpecker

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 17th century as a compound of 'wood' (from Old English 'wudu') and 'louse' (from Old English 'lus'), referring to the creature's common habitat under rotting timber and leaf litter.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Woodlouse. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/woodlouse
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