In Appalachian and Southern speech, "louse" can mean either a parasitic bug or, more often, a no-good person. It’s an old-fashioned insult that’s still alive in mountain talk.
★ If someone calls you "a louse," they don’t mean you’ve got bugs - they mean you’re a low-down, sorry excuse for a person. ★
Origin and Etymology
From Old English "lūs" (insect). By the 1600s, English speakers were already using "louse" as an insult for a worthless person. That sense carried into Appalachian speech, where it stuck as a common put-down.
Usage Notes
In Appalachia, "louse" is still used by older generations as a sharp but mild insult. It’s about on par with "rascal" or "sorry joker," stronger than "mess" but lighter than a curse word.
Say It Like a Southerner
"Louse" comes out sharp and quick, same as "mouse" with an "l." Plural is "lice" - but as an insult, it’s usually singular: "a louse."
Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
You've got to do something pretty bad to deserve it, but you still might get called a 'louse.' 
