Horse·fly n.; pl. Horseflies
 1. Zool. Any dipterous fly of the family Tabanidae, that stings horses, and sucks their blood.
 Note: ☞ Of these flies there are numerous species, both in Europe and America. They have a large proboscis with four sharp lancets for piercing the skin. Called also breeze fly. See Illust. under Diptera, and Breeze fly.
 2. Zool. The horse tick or forest fly (Hippobosca).

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