Category: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).