fireflies

1 definition found

fireflies - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Firefly \Fire"fly`\, n.; pl. Fireflies. (Zool.)
     Any luminous winged insect, esp. luminous beetles of the
     family Lampyrid[ae].
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The common American species belong to the genera
           Photinus (especially Photinus pyralis) and
           Photuris, in which both sexes are winged. The name is
           also applied to luminous species of Elaterid[ae]. See
           Fire beetle.
           [1913 Webster +PJC]