horsefly

views updated May 23 2018

horse·fly / ˈhôrsˌflī/ • n. (pl. -flies) a stoutly built fly (genus Tabanus, family Tabanidae), the female of which is a bloodsucker and inflicts painful bites on horses and other mammals.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

horsefly

views updated May 11 2018

horsefly Any of several species of flies in the family Tabanidae, especially Tabanus lineola. The female inflicts a painful bite and sucks blood. Length: to 3cm (1.2in).

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