chigger

[chig-er] /ˈtʃɪg ər/

noun

Also called harvest mite, redbug. the six-legged larva of a mite of the family Trombiculidae, parasitic on humans and other vertebrates, sucking blood and causing severe itching and acting as a vector of scrub typhus and other infectious diseases.

chigoe.

Also, jigger.

Origin

1735-45, Americanism; variant of chigoe

Examples from the web for chigger

If not dislodged, the chigger will feed for several days.
The inflamed areas resemble chigger bites, but differ in distribution on the body.
Treating clothing and shoes with a repellant may also help prevent tick and chigger bites.
To ease the pain and itching of chigger bites, rub with a moist aspirin tablet.
Polyvinyl alcohol with lacto-phenol, a mounting and clearing medium for chigger mites.

British Dictionary definitions for chigger

chigger

/ˈtʃɪɡə/

noun

(US & Canadian) Also called chigoe, redbug. the parasitic larva of any of various free-living mites of the family Trombidiidae, which causes intense itching of human skin

another name for the chigoe (sense 1)

Word Origin and History for chigger

1756, from West Indies chigoe (1660s), possibly from Carib, or from or influenced by words from African languages (e.g. Wolof and Yoruba jiga "insect").

chigger in Medicine

chigger (chĭg'ər)
n.

The six-legged larva of mites of the family Trombiculidae, parasitic on humans and other vertebrates and inflicting a bite that produces a wheal accompanied by intense itching. Also called harvest bug, harvest mite, jigger, red bug.
Chigoe.