gadfly

views updated May 21 2018

gad·fly / ˈgadˌflī/ • n. (pl. -flies) a fly that bites livestock, esp. a horsefly, warble fly, or botfly. ∎ fig. an annoying person, esp. one who provokes others into action by criticism.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

gadfly

views updated Jun 11 2018

gadfly cattle-biting fly. XVI. f. †gad spike (- ON. gaddr; rel. YARD2) + FLY1.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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