tsetse
/ˈtsɛtsi
/ /ˈtɛtsi /(also tsetse fly)
noun
An African bloodsucking fly which bites humans and other mammals, transmitting sleeping sickness and nagana.
- Genus Glossina, family Tabanidae.
- The tsetse fly transmits sleeping sickness, midges transmits lumpy skin disease and three-day stiff sickness.
- Due to the altitude, much of the region is free of malarial mosquitoes and the tsetse and other flies that spread human and animal diseases.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Setswana.