tsetse fly

noun tset·se fly \ ˈ(t)set-sē- , ˈtet- , ˈ(t)sēt- , ˈtēt- \

Updated on: 20 Mar 2018

Definition of tsetse fly

: any of several dipteran flies (genus Glossina) that occur in Africa south of the Sahara and include vectors of human and animal trypanosomes — called also tsetse; compare sleeping sickness

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Recent Examples of tsetse fly from the Web

While Botswana’s northern swampland was ridden with disease-carrying tsetse flies and malaria, Mr. Selby and his clients traversed the bush in style.

— harrison smith, Washington Post, "Harry Selby, one of the last and greatest of Africa’s ‘great white hunters,’ dies at 92," 22 Jan. 2018
The tsetse fly, which spreads sleeping sickness, nourishes its grub inside a bizarrely mammalian uterus and feeds it with a milklike fluid—one that’s laden with microbes.

— ed yong, The Atlantic, "The Wasp That Paints Its Nursery In Bacteria," 12 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tsetse fly.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of tsetse fly

Afrikaans, from Tswana tsètsè fly

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First Known Use: 1865

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TSETSE FLY Defined for English Language Learners

tsetse fly

noun

Definition of tsetse fly for English Language Learners

: a kind of fly found in Africa that bites people and animals, sucks their blood, and can spread a serious disease (called sleeping sickness) to humans

Medical Dictionary

tsetse fly

noun

medical Definition of tsetse fly

: any of several dipteran flies of the genus Glossina that occur in sub-Saharan Africa and include vectors of human and animal trypanosomes (as those causing sleeping sickness and nagana) — called also tsetse