tsetse fly

American  

[tset-see, tet-, tsee-tsee, tee-] / ˈtsɛt si, ˈtɛt-, ˈtsi tsi, ˈti- /

noun

1. any of several bloodsucking African flies of the genus Glossina, that act as a vector of sleeping sickness and other trypanosome infections of humans and domestic animals.

---

tsetse fly British  

/ ˈtsɛtsɪ /

noun

1. any of various bloodsucking African dipterous flies of the genus Glossina , which transmit the pathogens of various diseases: family Muscidae

---

tsetse fly Scientific  

/ tsĕt′sē /

1. Any of several bloodsucking African flies of the genus Glossina, two species of which (G. palpalis and G. morsitans) often carry and transmit trypanosomes, the protozoans that cause sleeping sickness.

---

Etymology

Origin of tsetse fly

First recorded in 1845–50; from Afrikaans, from Tswana tsêtsê + fly ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tsetse fly

It has been used to treat West African sleeping sickness, a chronic illness spread by the tsetse fly.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 29, 2026

By contrast, something like sleeping sickness is spread through a fly, the tsetse fly.

From Salon ● May 8, 2025

It will transform prospects for those infected by the bite of the tsetse fly and could help eradicate the disease by the WHO target date of 2020.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 22, 2018

African sleeping sickness, also known as African trypanosomiasis, is caused by a microscopic wormlike parasite spread exclusively by the tsetse fly.

From Science Magazine ● Sep. 23, 2016

Experiments have been undertaken by the British in the hope that the method could be used against the tsetse fly in Rhodesia.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson