Why is a flea market called a flea market?

Answer 1

It originated in France...there were the outdoor markets full of used furniture, clothing, household items and such and then there were the fleas (in the stuff) so it eventually was dubbed a "flea market".

Answer 2

Flea Market
Generally, the word flea connotes low-rent or cheap, because such places were often infested with fleas (cf. fleabag). The term flea market is a translation of the French marché aux puces, literally market with fleas, an open-air market where second hand goods are sold. From George S. Dougherty's 1922 In Europe:

It is called the "Flea" Market because there are so many second hand articles sold of all kinds that they are believed to gather fleas.
Some suggest that the term is also influenced by the fact that such markets are not fixed and jump around like fleas. While this may be a characteristic of the markets, it does not appear to be the origin.

(Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd Edition)

Answer 3

Found this on ididnotknowthatyesterday.blogspot.com:

After several unprofitable starts, a search on "flea market term" turned up the goods, sort of. It proved to be one of those tricky etymology questions that's almost impossible to answer with certainty. Nevertheless, I did uncover three plausible suggestions for the origin of "flea market."

The first theory, and the one most popular on the Internet, proposes that the term is a direct translation of the French Marché aux Puces, a large, outdoor bazaar in Paris. This original market earned its name from the critter-infested goods it was rumored to sell.

The second theory alleges that the term was coined at a time when the slums and alleys of Paris were demolished and replaced by new construction. The dealers in second-hand goods who lived and worked in these old neighborhoods were forced to flee. The merchants' new gathering place was referred to as the "flee market," which later became "flea market."

The final theory associates the term with New York City's 18th century Fly Market. Apparently, the Dutch name for the market was vlie, which means valley but is pronounced "flea."

So there you have it, three flea markets for the price of one. My money's on the first explanation, but don't hold us to it.

Answer 4

Flea market comes from the French marche aux puces, a name originally given to a market in Paris. The fleas were thought to be in the goods, because they were of the kind to attract vermin. The earliest English use I have found dates from 1922.

Answer 5

The first theory, and the one most popular on the Internet, proposes that the term is a direct translation of the French Marché aux Puces, a large, outdoor bazaar in Paris. This original market earned its name from the critter-infested goods it was rumored to sell.

The second theory alleges that the term was coined at a time when the slums and alleys of Paris were demolished and replaced by new construction. The dealers in second-hand goods who lived and worked in these old neighborhoods were forced to flee. The merchants' new gathering place was referred to as the "flee market," which later became "flea market."

The final theory associates the term with New York City's 18th century Fly Market. Apparently, the Dutch name for the market was vlie, which means valley but is pronounced "flea."

Answer 6

Flea Markets are a very old institution, they used to sell old clothes, sometimes off dead people. The clothes used to jump by themselves because of the fleas.

Answer 7

It's so called because the term is a direct translation from the French language. "Marché aux puces" in French literally means 'market with fleas' referring to the fact that there would be some flea-infested clothes and furniture.

Hope this helped.

Answer 8

Translated from the French -- marché aux puces -- market with fleas (term applied jocularly to a street market)

Answer 9

Maybe because everyone is just running around like a bunch of fleas, not watching where they are going and bumping into each other. But then again, maybe because the vendors are greedy blood suckers, and want to fortune from their junk.

Answer 10

Because second-hand stuff is known to have fleas. Since many items are ate up by fleas, they name it after the uninvited guest, hence, flea market.

:-)