English

Verb

deflea ‎(third-person singular simple present defleas, present participle defleaing, simple past and past participle defleaed)

1. (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, 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, 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.