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Webster 1913 Edition


Breeze fly

Breeze

,

Breeze′ flyˊ

,
Noun.
[OE.
brese
, AS.
briósa
; 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
Tabanidæ
, 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
.]