flea-bitten, a.
[f. as prec. + bitten ppl. a.]
1. Bitten by (or infested with) fleas.
| 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. i. iii. iii. (1676) 127 Redness of the face and itching, as if they were flea-bitten, or stung with Pis-mires. c 1626 Dick of Devon v. i. in Bullen O. Pl. (1883) II. 87 In my fleabitten Trundle bed. 1751 Smollett Per. Pic. (1779) IV. lxxxvii. 36 You old flinty-faced, flea⁓bitten scrub. 1823 Blackw. Mag. XIV. 508 Snug and flea-bitten, in their own personal garrets. |
2. Of the colour of a horse, dog, etc.: Having bay or sorrel spots or streaks, upon a lighter ground.
| 1570 Will of Bartillmew (Somerset Ho.), Geldinge flea⁓bitten colour. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. ii. (1586) 116 b, The fleabitten horse prooveth alwaies good in travell. 1685 Lond. Gaz. No. 2032/4 A Lusty strong well spread gray Gelding..beginning to be Flea-bitten about the Head and Neck. 1846 E. Jesse Anecd. Dogs 282 We now see them [pointers]..of a flea-bitten blue or grey. 1863 Times 21 May, A tall and very powerful flea-bitten gray. |
3. Also fig.
| 1917 D. H. Lawrence Look! 89 As to whether you've found a fortune In me, or a flea-bitten fate. 1971 Guardian 3 July 11/1 Gwalior town itself is quite as seedy and flea-bitten as any other central Indian town. |
Hence ˈflea-bittenness.
| 1837 Fraser's Mag. XVI. 532 The mares'-nests of its discovery were amply suited by the flea-bittenness of its style. |