clegg
3
9.9
A large fly that bites animals and people to drink their blood
- noun
- /klɛg/
- Archaic
:
tábano
- She felt a sharp pain as a clegg bit her while she was gardening.
Examples
-
The clegg buzzed around the horse, eager to take a meal.
-
During summer, cleggs are often seen flying near lakes and meadows.
-
The winner, number nine, Blue Fire Lady, is raced by Mr. And Mrs. Bill Peters, trained by C H McIntyre, a chestnut filly by Prince Charming out of Diamond Queen, and was ridden by Kelvin Clegg.
Synonyms
horsefly
vsclegg
3
5.5
A large fly whose females bite horses and other animals to drink blood
is a general name for large fast flies not limited to that species
9.9
A large fly like a horsefly that bites animals and drinks their blood
has identical meaning but is spelled with a double final g
Surface Forms
Etymology
Clegg (also seen as cleg) is an old regional name for a large, biting fly that feeds on animals. A helpful way to remember it is to think of the word 'cling' — these flies cling to horses and suck blood, so clegg means a fast, blood-sucking horsefly.