clegg
Definition
Noun: 1. A large, swift fly (of the family Tabanidae), the female of which sucks the blood of various animals: A clegg is a type of biting horsefly. It is known for its size, speed, and painful bite, as the female requires a blood meal.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- I was bitten by a clegg while hiking near the marsh.
- The cattle were agitated by the swarm of cleggs.
- A clegg can deliver a very painful bite.
Advanced Usage
- The term "clegg" is primarily used in British English. In American English, the more common terms are "horsefly" or "gadfly".
- It is often used in rural or outdoor contexts to describe a persistent, biting pest.
Variants and Related Words
- Cleg (n.): An alternative spelling for "clegg".
- Horsefly (n.): The general American English term for insects of the family Tabanidae.
- Gadfly (n.): Another general term for a biting fly, which can also be used metaphorically for a persistent critic.
Synonyms
- Horsefly
- Gadfly
- Breeze fly (regional)
Related Phrases
- Bitten by a clegg: To have been stung by this specific type of fly.
- My leg swelled up after I was bitten by a clegg.
Noun
-
large swift fly the female of which sucks blood of various animals
