deflea

present singular third person defleas · participle present defleaing · participle past defleaed · past defleaed · participle past deflead · past deflead

1. transitiveTo rid of fleas.

   I had to deflea our cat with a flea comb, even though it wears a flea collar.

   5 more examples

   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.

   1948, University of Florida Publications in Experimental Applied Economics, volume 3, page 124

   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!

   1969, Elizabeth Charles, How to Keep Your Pet Healthy, page 99

   She cares personally for her dogs, feeds them, defleas them, shouts crossly at them when they misbehave.

   1977, The New York Times Biographical Service, volume 8, page 57

   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.

   1986, Pure-bred Dogs American Kennel Gazette, volume 103, page 95

   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).

   1989, Stuart Brent, Seven Stairs: An Adventure of the Heart, page 132