'Gadfly' definitions:
Definition of 'gadfly'
From: WordNet
Definition of 'Gadfly'
From: GCIDE
- Gadfly \Gad"fly`\ (g[a^]d"fl[imac]`), n.; pl. Gadflies. [Gad + fly.] (Zool.) Any dipterous insect of the genus Oestrus, and allied genera of botflies. [1913 Webster]
- Note: The sheep gadfly (Oestrus ovis) deposits its young in the nostrils of sheep, and the larv[ae] develop in the frontal sinuses. The common species which infests cattle (Hypoderma bovis) deposits its eggs upon or in the skin where the larv[ae] or bots live and produce sores called wormels. The gadflies of the horse produce the intestinal parasites called bots. See Botfly, and Bots. The true horseflies are often erroneously called gadflies, and the true gadflies are sometimes incorrectly called breeze flies. [1913 Webster]
- Gadfly petrel (Zool.), one of several small petrels of the genus Oestrelata. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'gadfly'
From: GCIDE
- Breeze \Breeze\, Breeze fly \Breeze" fly`\, n. [OE. brese, AS. bri['o]sa; 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 Tabanid[ae], 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]
Synonyms of 'gadfly'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abettor,
- actuator,
- animator,
- cajoler,
- coax,
- coaxer,
- encourager,
- energizer,
- firer,
- gad,
- galvanizer,
- goad,
- impeller,
- inducer,
- inspirer,
- lash,
- mover,
- moving spirit,
- oxgoad,
- persuader,
- pleader,
- prick,
- prime mover,
- prod,
- prompter,
- rowel,
- spark,
- spark plug,
- sparker,
- spur,
- stimulator,
- sting,
- tempter,
- wheedler,
- whip,
- whiplash