fly¹ n Cp DAE ~ ² (1708-) for sense 1.
   1 A small, biting winged insect, appearing in the summer months (Simulium spp); BLACK FLY.
   [1620] 1895 PROWSE 117-18 Those flies seeme to have a greate power and authority upon all loytering people that come to the Newfoundland; for they have the property, that when they find any such lying lazily, or sleeping in the Woods, they will presently bee more nimble to seize on them, than any Sargeant will bee to arrest a man for debt; neither will they leave stinging or sucking out the blood of such sluggards, untill like a beadle they bring him to his Master. [1663] 1963 YONGE 60 In July, the muscetos (a little biting fly) and garnippers (a larger one) will much vex us. 1774 Trans Roy Soc lxiv, 377 A venomous reptile, or insect, is not to be found... The whole country is filled with very small flies, which are exceedingly tormenting. [1831-1839] 1926 AUDUBON 344 We found that camping out at night was extremely uncomfortable, on account of the annoyance caused by flies and musquitoes, which attacked the hunters in swarms at all times, but more especially when they lay down, unless they enveloped themselves in thick smoke. 1933 GREENLEAF (ed) 251 "Change Islands Song": The weather still got hotter, plenty nippers, flies and stout. 1971 CASEY 134 The flies are some thick or the flies are mad, so you can watch out for the northeast wind.
   2 Comb fly-catcher: (a) round-leaved sundew, a bog plant that attracts and traps small insects (Drosera rotundiflora) (1956 ROULEAU 30); (b) red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) (1976 Avifaunal Survey 145).
   fly-oil: an insect repellent, esp for 'black flies.'
   P 65-464 Fly oil is insect repellent. T 55/7-464 And the flies in ten thousands. They eats me now but then they wouldn't eat me because I used to keep the fly dope on, you know, oil, fly oil.
   fly spit: see SPIT n.

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