A gadfly: a name given to various dipterous insects, esp. of the genera Œstrus (botfly, n.) and Tabanus, which annoy horses and cattle. archaic or di…

Any of various parasitic flies which cause great agitation in the livestock on which they deposit eggs or inflict bites; = gadfly, n. 1. Also figur…

Any of various parasitic flies which cause great agitation in the livestock on which they deposit eggs or inflict bites; esp. a botfly (family Oest…

A gadfly. Cf. breeze, n.1 1a.

? = gad-bee, n.

†(a) the cockchafer, Melolontha melolontha (obsolete); (b) (in later use) the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans.

(see quot.).

Any of the typically large and hairy dipteran flies that have larvae known as bots (see bot, n.1 1). Frequently with distinguishing word…

= botfly, n.