vbl. sb. Obs. [f. as prec. + BITING vbl. sb.]
1. The biting of a flea; the spot caused by this.
1552. Huloet, Fleabitinge, pulicina signa.
1582. M. Philips, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1600), III. 475. If you let them sucke their fill, and to goe away of themselues, then they doe you no other hurt, but leaue behinde them a red spot somewhat bigger than a flea-biting.
1676. Wiseman, Surgery, Lues Venera, i. 5. The attendance of a Chancre is commonly a breaking out all over the body, like a flea biting, which terminates in various sorts of Tetters or Ulcerous Scabs.
2. fig. A small hurt, damage, etc.; = FLEA-BITE 2.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 69 b. You haue heard a whole court roule of ribauldrie and yet al these are but fle bitynges in respect and comparison of that which I shal now show you.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s Teares, 86 b. If wee be not thus troubled, if our spyrits bee not possessed with an anguish, but we make a sport and flea-byting of his fearefull visitation, and thinke (without our prayers) the season of the yeere will cease it, hee will sende a rougher stringed scourge amongst vs, a desolation that shall furrow deeper in our sides, and roote our the memoriall of vs.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. i. I. v. (1676), 8. That which is but a fleabiting to one causeth insufferable torment to another.
1711. R. Cooper, Country-Man’s Proposal (1712), 13. I will shew you that would be but a Flea-biting to the Nation.
3. = FLEA-BITE 3.
1598. Florio, Liardo, a horse marked with red or tannie spots or fleabitings.
