Horseflies

1 definition found

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

  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]