black fly

noun

1. any of the minute, black gnats of the dipterous family Simuliidae, having aquatic larvae.

black fly

noun

1. See buffalo gnat
   any small blackish stout-bodied dipterous fly of the family Simuliidae , which sucks the blood of man, mammals, and birds See also buffalo gnat

Word History and Origins

Origin of black fly¹

First recorded in 1600–10

Example Sentences

There was some kind of an animal inside my shirt, and one that made a mosquito, black-fly, or flea seem tame.

From Project Gutenberg

But each bite of the black fly makes a separate and distinct boil, that will not heal and be well in two months.

From Project Gutenberg

Not one of us had succeeded in seeing the big black Fly perching on the dome of the mason bee.

From Project Gutenberg

The former has, therefore, to play second fiddle in Ceylon, where he is usually known to Europeans as the black fly-catcher.

From Project Gutenberg

The wand of Herrmann never wrought such a wonder as did this magic touch of the little black fly upon the oak leaf.

From Project Gutenberg