dobsonfly

dob·son·fly

 (dŏb′sən-flī′)

n.

Any of various insects of the subfamily Corydalinae, especially Corydalus cornutus of eastern North America, having two pairs of large, many-veined wings and in the male long, pincerlike mandibles.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

dobsonfly

(ˈdɒbsənˌflaɪ)

n, pl -flies

(Animals) US and Canadian a large North American neuropterous insect, Corydalis cornutus: the male has elongated horn-like mouthparts and the larva (a hellgrammite or dobson) is used as bait by anglers: suborder Megaloptera. See also hellgrammite

[C20: origin uncertain, perhaps after the surname Dobson]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

dob•son•fly

(ˈdɒb sənˌflaɪ)

n., pl. -flies.

a very large, soft-bodied neuropteran insect, Corydalus cornutus, commonly seen in fluttery flight above streams, noted for its abundant aquatic larvae. Compare hellgrammite.

[1900–05; appar. after surname Dobson]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

dobsonfly - large soft-bodied insect having long slender mandibles in the male; aquatic larvae often used as bait Corydalus cornutus, dobson fly, dobson neuropteran, neuropteron, neuropterous insect - insect having biting mouthparts and four large membranous wings with netlike veins Corydalus, genus Corydalus, genus Corydalis, Corydalis - type genus of the Corydalidae

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