browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
more about gadflies
gadflies |
1 definition found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Gadfly \Gad"fly`\, n.; pl {Gadflies}. [Gad + fly.] (Zo["o]l.) Any dipterous insect of the genus {Oestrus}, and allied genera of botflies. Note: The sheep gadfly ({Oestrus ovis}) deposits its young in the nostrils of sheep, and the larv[ae] develop in the frontal sinuses. The common species which infests cattle ({Hypoderma bovis}) deposits its eggs upon or in the skin where the larv[ae] or bots live and produce sores called wormels The gadflies of the horse produce the intestinal parasites called bots. See {Botfly}, and {Bots}. The true horseflies are often erroneously called gadflies, and the true gadflies are sometimes incorrectly called breeze flies. {Gadfly petrel} (Zo["o]l.), one of several small petrels of the genus {Oestrelata}.
more about gadflies