breeze fly

2 definitions found

breeze fly - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Horsefly \Horse"fly`\, n.; pl. Horseflies.
     1. (Zool.) Any dipterous fly of the family Tabanid[ae],
        that stings horses, and sucks their blood.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Of these flies there are numerous species, both in
           Europe and America. They have a large proboscis with
           four sharp lancets for piercing the skin. Called also
           breeze fly. See Illust. under Diptera, and Breeze fly
           .
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) The horse tick or forest fly (Hippobosca).
        [1913 Webster]

  Breeze \Breeze\, Breeze fly \Breeze" fly`\, n. [OE. brese, AS.
     bri['o]sa; perh. akin to OHG. brimissa, G. breme, bremse, D.
     brems, which are akin to G. brummen to growl, buzz, grumble,
     L. fremere to murmur; cf. G. brausen, Sw. brusa, Dan. bruse,
     to roar, rush.] (Zool.)
     A fly of various species, of the family Tabanid[ae], noted
     for buzzing about animals, and tormenting them by sucking
     their blood; -- called also horsefly, and gadfly. They
     are among the largest of two-winged or dipterous insects. The
     name is also given to different species of botflies. [Written
     also breese and brize.]
     [1913 Webster]