†(a) an artificial fly dressed with breast feathers of a drake (obsolete); (b) a may-fly, used in angling.

= ephemera, n.2 1.

An insect, which, in its winged state, lives but for a day. Cf. ephemera, n.2

= ephemeral, n.

An insect that (in its imago or winged form) lives only for a day. In modern entomology the name of a genus of pseudo-neuropterous insects…

An angler's name for species of Ephemera: the green drake is the common day-fly (E. vulgata). (See also drake-fly n. at drake, n.2 compounds 2.)

an adult female mayfly of the genus Ephemera; (Angling) an artificial fly made in imitation of this.

Angling. A yellow mayfly, esp. Heptagenia sulphurea; an artificial fly made in imitation of this.

A caddis fly that carries its greenish egg-mass at the tip of the abdomen; spec. (in Europe) Brachycentrus subnubilus (family Sericostomatidae)…

A kind of fly (see quots.); also an imitation of it used in fly-fishing.

Insects which live only for a day. Also transferred of books, persons, etc.

a fly which appears when shad are running.

An insect belonging to the group Ephemeridæ: see ephemera, n.2 Also figurative.