buffalo gnat

noun

1. black fly.

buffalo gnat

noun

1. any of various small North American blood-sucking dipterous insects of the genus Simulium and related genera: family Simuliidae Also calledblack fly

Word History and Origins

Origin of buffalo gnat¹

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25

Example Sentences

I allude to a small black insect generally known to prairie travellers as the 'buffalo-gnat.'

From Project Gutenberg

While we were out together I remarked that the buffalo gnat had bitten us very severely.

From Project Gutenberg