shadfly
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of shadfly
An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; so called because they hatch at the time of year when shad are running
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We met with shadflies midway, about a mile from the shore, and they evidently fly over the whole lake.
From Canoeing in the wilderness by Thoreau, Henry David
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
