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

(n) small tropical flea; the fertile female burrows under the skin of the host including humans(n) larval mite that sucks the blood of vertebrates including human beings causing intense irritation

The parasitic larva of trombiculid mites. Chitin.

A chigoe (''Tunga penetrans''), a kind of flea found in tropical climates. A harvest mite, a very small, red mite endemic to the Midwestern and Southeastern US, the infestation of which causes int [..]