Dayfly

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Dayfly \Day"fly`\ (d[=a]"fl[imac]`), n. (Zool.)
     A neuropterous insect of the genus {Ephemera} and related
     genera, of many species, and inhabiting fresh water in the
     larval state; the ephemeral fly; -- so called because it
     commonly lives but one day in the winged or adult state. See
     {Ephemeral fly}, under {Ephemeral}.


     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  dayfly
       n : slender insect with delicate membranous wings having an
           aquatic larval stage and terrestrial adult stage usually
           lasting less than two days [syn: {mayfly}, {shadfly}]