*fly*

. 1. Any of numerous dark-colored neuropterous insects of the genus Sialis or allied genera. They have predaceous aquatic larvæ, which are used for bait. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. (Angling) An artificial fly with brown mottled wings, body of peacock harl, and black legs. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. any dipterous insect of the family Bombyliidae, which eat nectar and in some cases resemble bees. Their larvae are parasitic on the larvae of bees and other insects. [ WordNet 1.5 + PJC ]

(Zool.) A Brazilian dipterous insect of the genus Trypeta, which lays its eggs in the nostrils or in wounds of man and beast, where the larvæ do great injury. [ 1913 Webster ]

, (Zool.) 1. In the United States, a small, venomous, two-winged fly of the genus Simulium of several species, exceedingly abundant and troublesome in the northern forests; -- called also buffalo gnat. The larvæ are aquatic. It sucks the blood of birds as well as humans and other mammals. [ WordNet 1.5 + WordNet 1.5 ]

2. A black plant louse, as the bean aphis (Aphis fabæ), which infests e. g. beans and sugar beets; -- called also bean aphid. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Zool.) Any species of fly of the genus Musca that deposits its eggs or young larvæ (called flyblows and maggots) upon meat or other animal products. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Fishing) The fly at the end of the leader; an end fly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A dipterous insect of the family (Estridæ, of many different species, some of which are particularly troublesome to domestic animals, as the horse, ox, and sheep, on which they deposit their eggs. A common species is one of the botflies of the horse (Gastrophilus equi), the larvæ of which (bots) are taken into the stomach of the animal, where they live several months and pass through their larval states. In tropical America one species sometimes lives under the human skin, and another in the stomach. See Gadfly. [ 1913 Webster ]

/mhw>, n. [ OE. brese, AS. briósa; perh. akin to OHG. brimissa, G. breme, bremse, D. brems, which are akin to G. brummen to growl, buzz, grumble, L. fremere to murmur; cf. G. brausen, Sw. brusa, Dan. bruse, to roar, rush. ] (Zool.) A fly of various species, of the family Tabanidæ, noted for buzzing about animals, and tormenting them by sucking their blood; -- called also horsefly, and gadfly. They are among the largest of two-winged or dipterous insects. The name is also given to different species of botflies. [ Written also breese and brize. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Concisely; in few words. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ or } n. (Zool.) Any large fly troublesome to cattle, as the gadflies and breeze flies. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ From its reddish color. See 1st Burrel. ] (Zool.) The botfly or gadfly of cattle (Hypoderma bovis). See Gadfly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Butterflies [ Perh. from the color of a yellow species. AS. buter-flēge, buttor-fleóge; cf. G. butterfliege, D. botervlieg. See Butter, and Fly. ] (Zool.) A general name for the numerous species of diurnal Lepidoptera. [ See Illust. under Aphrodite. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Asclepias butterfly. See under Asclepias. --
Butterfly fish (Zool.), the ocellated blenny (Blennius ocellaris) of Europe. See Blenny. The term is also applied to the flying gurnard. --
Butterfly shell (Zool.), a shell of the genus Voluta. --
Butterfly valve (Mech.), a kind of double clack valve, consisting of two semicircular clappers or wings hinged to a cross rib in the pump bucket. When open it somewhat resembles a butterfly in shape. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. tropical gurnardlike fish with huge fanlike pectoral fins for underwater gliding; unrelated to searobins.
Syn. -- flying gurnard, flying robin. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

(Zoöl.), a white butterfly (Pieris rapæ of both Europe and America, and the allied Pieris oleracea, a native American species) which, in the larval state, devours the leaves of the cabbage and the turnip. See also Cabbage worm, below. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.), a small mothlike species of trichopterous insect, whose larva is the caddice; it has two pairs of hairy membranous wings and aquatic larvae. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

n. same as caddice fly.
Syn. -- caddice fly, caddicefly. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

A fly that preys on fruit. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A plant with the joints of the stem, and sometimes other parts, covered with a viscid secretion to which small insects adhere. The species of Silene are examples of the catchfly. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ From Gr. chalko`s copper; in allusion to its metallic colors. ] (Zool.) One of a numerous family of hymenopterous insects (Chalcididæ. Many are gallflies, others are parasitic on insects. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In the first place; principally; preëminently; above; especially. [ 1913 Webster ]

Search through this garden; leave unsearched no nook;
But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. For the most part; mostly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those parts of the kingdom where the . . . estates of the dissenters chiefly lay. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ From Kolumbatz, a mountain in Germany. ] (Zool.) See Buffalo fly, under Buffalo. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a slender nonstinging insect similar to but smaller than the dragonfly but having wings folded when at rest. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

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 ]

adv. Without sense of sounds; obscurely. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Lonely; solitary. [ Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Deftly. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) See 1st Dor. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) A dipterous insect (Eristalis tenax), resembling the drone bee. See Eristalis. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. moving or functioning quickly and energetically; as, a fast-flying messenger.
Syn. -- fast flying, hurrying, speedy. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n.; pl. Fireflies (Zool.) Any luminous winged insect, esp. luminous beetles of the family Lampyridæ. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The common American species belong to the genera Photinus (especially Photinus pyralis) and Photuris, in which both sexes are winged. The name is also applied to luminous species of Elateridæ. See Fire beetle. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. (Biochem.) a type of luciferin produced by the firefly Photinus pyralis. Its structure has been elucidated, and chemically it is recognized as 4, 5-Dihydro-2-(6-hydroxy-2-benzothiazol-2-yl)-4-thiazolecarboxylic acid, C11H8N3O2S2. It has found use in a very sensitive assay for ATP, in which concentrations of ATP as low as 10-11 molar can be detected. [ MI11 ] [ PJC ]

n. (Zool.) a fly similar to but smaller than the dobsonfly. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n.; pl. Flies [ OE. flie, flege, AS. fl&ymacr_;ge, fleóge, fr. fleógan to fly; akin to D. vlieg, OHG. flioga, G. fliege, Icel. & Sw. fluga, Dan. flue. √ 84. See Fly, v. i. ] 1. (Zool.) (a) Any winged insect; esp., one with transparent wings; as, the Spanish fly; firefly; gall fly; dragon fly. (b) Any dipterous insect; as, the house fly; flesh fly; black fly. See Diptera, and Illust. in Append. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A hook dressed in imitation of a fly, -- used for fishing. “The fur-wrought fly.” Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A familiar spirit; a witch's attendant. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A trifling fly, none of your great familiars. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A parasite. [ Obs. ] Massinger. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A kind of light carriage for rapid transit, plying for hire and usually drawn by one horse. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The length of an extended flag from its staff; sometimes, the length from the “union” to the extreme end. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. The part of a vane pointing the direction from which the wind blows. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Naut.) That part of a compass on which the points are marked; the compass card. Totten. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Mech.) (a) Two or more vanes set on a revolving axis, to act as a fanner, or to equalize or impede the motion of machinery by the resistance of the air, as in the striking part of a clock. (b) A heavy wheel, or cross arms with weights at the ends on a revolving axis, to regulate or equalize the motion of machinery by means of its inertia, where the power communicated, or the resistance to be overcome, is variable, as in the steam engine or the coining press. See Fly wheel (below). [ 1913 Webster ]

10. (Knitting Machine) The piece hinged to the needle, which holds the engaged loop in position while the needle is penetrating another loop; a latch. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. The pair of arms revolving around the bobbin, in a spinning wheel or spinning frame, to twist the yarn. [ 1913 Webster ]

12. (Weaving) A shuttle driven through the shed by a blow or jerk. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

13. (a) Formerly, the person who took the printed sheets from the press. (b) A vibrating frame with fingers, attached to a power to a power printing press for doing the same work. [ 1913 Webster ]

14. The outer canvas of a tent with double top, usually drawn over the ridgepole, but so extended as to touch the roof of the tent at no other place. [ 1913 Webster ]

15. One of the upper screens of a stage in a theater. [ 1913 Webster ]

16. The fore flap of a bootee; also, a lap on trousers, overcoats, etc., to conceal a row of buttons. [ 1913 Webster ]

17. (Baseball) A batted ball that flies to a considerable distance, usually high in the air; also, the flight of a ball so struck; as, it was caught on the fly. Also called fly ball. “a fly deep into right field” [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

18. (Cotton Manuf.) Waste cotton. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Black fly,
Cheese fly,
Dragon fly, etc. See under Black, Cheese, etc. --
Fly agaric (Bot.), a mushroom (Agaricus muscarius), having a narcotic juice which, in sufficient quantities, is poisonous. --
Fly block (Naut.), a pulley whose position shifts to suit the working of the tackle with which it is connected; -- used in the hoisting tackle of yards. --
Fly board (Printing Press), the board on which printed sheets are deposited by the fly. --
Fly book, a case in the form of a book for anglers' flies. Kingsley. --
Fly cap, a cap with wings, formerly worn by women. --
Fly drill, a drill having a reciprocating motion controlled by a fly wheel, the driving power being applied by the hand through a cord winding in reverse directions upon the spindle as it rotates backward and forward. Knight. --
Fly fishing, the act or art of angling with a bait of natural or artificial flies; fishing using a fly{ 2 } as bait. Walton. -- --
Fly fisherman, one who fishes using natural or artificial flies{ 2 } as bait, especially one who fishes exclusively in that manner. --
Fly flap, an implement for killing flies. --
Fly governor, a governor for regulating the speed of an engine, etc., by the resistance of vanes revolving in the air. --
Fly honeysuckle (Bot.), a plant of the honeysuckle genus (Lonicera), having a bushy stem and the flowers in pairs, as L. ciliata and L. Xylosteum. --
Fly hook, a fishhook supplied with an artificial fly. --
Fly leaf, an unprinted leaf at the beginning or end of a book, circular, programme, etc. --
Fly maggot, a maggot bred from the egg of a fly. Ray. --
Fly net, a screen to exclude insects. --
Fly nut (Mach.), a nut with wings; a thumb nut; a finger nut. --
Fly orchis (Bot.), a plant (Ophrys muscifera), whose flowers resemble flies. --
Fly paper, poisoned or sticky paper for killing flies that feed upon or are entangled by it. --
Fly powder, an arsenical powder used to poison flies. --
Fly press, a screw press for punching, embossing, etc., operated by hand and having a heavy fly. --
Fly rail, a bracket which turns out to support the hinged leaf of a table. --
Fly rod, a light fishing rod used in angling with a fly. --
Fly sheet, a small loose advertising sheet; a handbill. --
Fly snapper (Zool.), an American bird (Phainopepla nitens), allied to the chatterers and shrikes. The male is glossy blue-black; the female brownish gray. --
Fly wheel (Mach.), a heavy wheel attached to machinery to equalize the movement (opposing any sudden acceleration by its inertia and any retardation by its momentum), and to accumulate or give out energy for a variable or intermitting resistance. See Fly, n., 9. --
On the fly (Baseball), still in the air; -- said of a batted ball caught before touching the ground.. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. Flew p. p. Flown p. pr. & vb. n. Flying. ] [ OE. fleen, fleen, fleyen, flegen, AS. fleógan; akin to D. vliegen, OHG. fliogan, G. fliegen, Icel. fljūga, Sw. flyga, Dan. flyve, Goth. us-flaugjan to cause to fly away, blow about, and perh. to L. pluma feather, E. plume. √84. Cf. Fledge, Flight, Flock of animals. ] 1. To move in or pass through the air with wings, as a bird.

2. To move through the air or before the wind; esp., to pass or be driven rapidly through the air by any impulse. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To float, wave, or rise in the air, as sparks or a flag. [ 1913 Webster ]

Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. Job v. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To move or pass swiftly; to hasten away; to circulate rapidly; as, a ship flies on the deep; a top flies around; rumor flies. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fly, envious Time, till thou run out thy race. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The dark waves murmured as the ships flew on. Bryant. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To run from danger; to attempt to escape; to flee; as, an enemy or a coward flies. See Note under Flee. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fly, ere evil intercept thy flight. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whither shall I fly to escape their hands ? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To move suddenly, or with violence; to do an act suddenly or swiftly; -- usually with a qualifying word; as, a door flies open; a bomb flies apart. [ 1913 Webster ]

To fly about (Naut.), to change frequently in a short time; -- said of the wind. --
To fly around, to move about in haste. [ Colloq. ] --
To fly at, to spring toward; to rush on; to attack suddenly. --
To fly in the face of, to insult; to assail; to set at defiance; to oppose with violence; to act in direct opposition to; to resist. --
To fly off, to separate, or become detached suddenly; to revolt. --
To fly on, to attack. --
To fly open, to open suddenly, or with violence. --
To fly out. (a) To rush out. (b) To burst into a passion; to break out into license. --
To let fly. (a) To throw or drive with violence; to discharge. “A man lets fly his arrow without taking any aim.” Addison. (b) (Naut.) To let go suddenly and entirely; as, to let fly the sheets. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To cause to fly or to float in the air, as a bird, a kite, a flag, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

The brave black flag I fly. W. S. Gilbert. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To fly or flee from; to shun; to avoid. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sleep flies the wretch. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

To fly the favors of so good a king. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To hunt with a hawk. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To manage (an aircraft) in flight; as, to fly an aëroplane. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

To fly a kite (Com.), to raise money on commercial notes. [ Cant or Slang ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Knowing; wide awake; fully understanding another's meaning. [ Slang ] Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Disposed to fly away; flighty; unrestrained; light and free; -- used of both persons and things. -- n. A flyaway person or thing. “Truth is such a flyaway.” Emerson. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Bot.) The hair grass (Agrostis scabra). So called from its light panicle, which is blown to great distances by the wind. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. (Bot.) A kind of catchfly of the genus Silene; also, a poisonous mushroom (Agaricus muscarius); fly agaric. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Marked by, or as if by, the bite of flies. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To deposit eggs upon, as a flesh fly does on meat; to cause to be maggoty; hence, to taint or contaminate, as if with flyblows. Bp. Srillingfleet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) One of the eggs or young larvæ deposited by a flesh fly, or blowfly. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tainted or contaminated with flyblows; damaged; foul. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wherever flyblown reputations were assembled. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Fly + boat: cf. D. vlieboot. ] 1. (Naut.) A large Dutch coasting vessel. [ 1913 Webster ]

Captain George Weymouth made a voyage of discovery to the northwest with two flyboats. Purchas. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A kind of passenger boat formerly used on canals. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The covering of an insect, esp. the elytra of beetles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) One of numerous species of birds that feed upon insects, which they take on the wing. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The true flycatchers of the Old World are Oscines, and belong to the family Muscicapidæ, as the spotted flycatcher (Muscicapa grisola). The American flycatchers, or tyrant flycatchers, are Clamatores, and belong to the family Tyrannidæ, as the kingbird, pewee, crested flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus), and the vermilion flycatcher or churinche (Pyrocephalus rubineus). Certain American flycatching warblers of the family Sylvicolidæ are also called flycatchers, as the Canadian flycatcher (Sylvania Canadensis), and the hooded flycatcher (S. mitrata). See Tyrant flycatcher. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Having the habit of catching insects on the wing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Flier. ] 1. One that uses wings. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The fly of a flag: See Fly, n., 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Anything that is scattered abroad in great numbers as a theatrical programme, an advertising leaf, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Arch.) One in a flight of steps which are parallel to each other(as in ordinary stairs), as distinguished from a winder. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The pair of arms attached to the spindle of a spinning frame, over which the thread passes to the bobbin; -- so called from their swift revolution. See Fly, n., 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The fan wheel that rotates the cap of a windmill as the wind veers. Internat. Cyc. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Stock Jobbing) A small operation not involving ? considerable part of one's capital, or not in the line of one's ordinary business; a venture. [ Cant ] Bartlett. [ 1913 Webster ]