▪ I. ˈfly-blow, n.
[f. fly n.1 + blow n.2]
1. The egg deposited by a fly in the flesh of an animal, or the maggot proceeding therefrom. Also collect. Rarely the action of depositing the egg.
| 1556 J. Heywood Spider & F. xliv. 229 This flie hath blown fliblowe in mine eare a pecke. 1688 R. Holme Armoury ii. 467/1 Little long eggs called Fly blowes. 1713 J. Warder True Amazons (ed. 2) 18 The Eggs..are..something bigger than the common Fly-blow. 1757 Dyer Fleece i. 579 Lest touch of busy fly-blows wound their skin. 1825 On Bull Baiting i. Houlston Tracts I. xxvii. 8 Its poor wounds were all full of fly-blows. |
| fig. a 1680 Butler Rem. (1759) I. 425 He is.. produced out of..the Flyblows of the Rabble. |
| attrib. 1606 [see fly-blown 1 fig. 1602]. 1856 Mrs. Browning Aur. Leigh ix. 378 No fly-blow gossip ever specked my life. |
2. = by-blow 3.
| 1875 Ouida Signa I. viii. 140. |
▪ II. ˈfly-blow, v.
[f. fly n.1 + blow v.1; after next.]
1. trans. Of the fly: To deposit eggs in (meat, etc.); hence, to corrupt secretly, taint. Chiefly fig. So fly-blowing vbl. n.
| 1603 B. Jonson Sejanus v. x, Is not he blest That..Can claw his subtle elbow, or with a buzze Fly-blow his eares. 1610 Rowlands Martin Mark-all 13 If it were not for us, much good meate would be in danger of Fly-blowing. 1678 B. R. Let. Pop. Friends 7 If we cannot wound the Government mortally, lets Fly-blow it with Scandals and Suspicions. 1795 Southey Joan of Arc x. 77 Court vermin that..fly-blow the king's ear, and make him waste..his people's wealth. 1813 T. Moore Let. in Mem. (1853) I. 349 A whole swarm of imitators..will completely fly-blow all the novelty of my subject. 1891 R. Wallace Rural Econ. Austral. & N.Z. ii. 42 Sheep do not require to be dipped in this district, as there are no ticks, no foot-rot, and little fly-blowing. |
2. intr. (or absol.) Of flies: To deposit their eggs.
| 1735 Pope Ep. Lady 28 So morning Insects..Shine, buzz, and fly-blow in the setting-sun. |