horsefly

Horse"fly`, n.; pl. Horseflies (. 1. (Zoöl.) Defn: Any dipterous fly of the family Tabanidæ, that stings horses, and sucks their blood. 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. 2. (Zoöl.) Defn: The horse tick or forest fly (Hippobosca).

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