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:[f. [[GAD]] n.1]  

:[f. [[GAD]] n.1]  

*1. The popular name of a fly which bites and goads cattle, esp. a fly of the genus Tabanus or of the genus {Oe}strus; a bot-fly, breeze.

*1. The popular name of a fly which bites and goads cattle, esp. a fly of the genus Tabanus or of the genus {Oe}strus; a bot-fly, breeze.

:1626 T. H. Caussin's Holy Crt. 120 It was like..as a bull stung with a Gad-fly. 1727-46 THOMSON Summer 499 Light fly his slumbers, if perchance a flight Of angry gadflies fasten on the herd. 1831 YOUATT Horse xiii. (1843) 289 A species of gad-fly, the {oe}strus equi, is in the latter part of the summer exceedingly busy about horses. 1841-4 EMERSON Ess. Ser. I. i. (1876) 25 The nomads of Africa were constrained to wander by the attacks of the gadfly, which drives the cattle mad.

:1626 T. H. Caussin's Holy Crt. 120 It was like..as a bull stung with a Gad-fly. 1727-46 THOMSON Summer 499 Light fly his slumbers, if perchance a flight Of angry gadflies fasten on the herd. 1831 YOUATT Horse xiii. (1843) 289 A [[species]] of gad-fly, the {oe}strus equi, is in the latter part of the summer exceedingly busy about horses. 1841-4 EMERSON Ess. Ser. I. i. (1876) 25 The [[nomad]]s of Africa were constrained to wander by the attacks of the gadfly, which drives the cattle mad.

*2. fig. One who irritates, torments, or worries another. Also (after L. {oe}strus), an irresistible impulse to some course of action.

*2. fig. One who irritates, torments, or worries another. Also (after L. {oe}strus), an irresistible impulse to some course of action.

:1649 G. DANIEL Trinarch., Hen. IV, cccxlvii, Rather then have the Gad-flyes of an ill-Disposed Army on their shoulders feed. 1807-8 W. IRVING Salmag. (1824) 243 It is our misfortune to be frequently pestered..by certain critical gad-flies. 1864 LOWELL Fireside Trav. 314 Bitten with the Anglo-Saxon gadfly that drives us all to disenchant artifice.

:1649 G. DANIEL Trinarch., Hen. IV, cccxlvii, Rather then have the Gad-flyes of an ill-Disposed Army on their shoulders feed. 1807-8 W. IRVING Salmag. (1824) 243 It is our misfortune to be frequently pestered..by certain critical gad-flies. 1864 LOWELL Fireside Trav. 314 Bitten with the [[Anglo-Saxon]] gadfly that drives us all to disenchant artifice.

*3. With allusion to GAD v.    a. In phrase to have a gad-fly: to be fond of ‘gadding about’.

*3. With allusion to GAD v.    a. In phrase to have a gad-fly: to be fond of ‘gadding about’.

:1591 LYLY Sappho II. iii, My mistresse, I thinke, hath got a gadfly, never at home, and yet none can tell where abroade. 1754 RICHARDSON Grandison I. viii, You have neither wings to your shoulder, nor gad-fly in your cap: you love home.

:1591 LYLY [[Sappho]] II. iii, My mistresse, I thinke, hath got a gadfly, never at [[home]], and yet none can tell where abroade. 1754 RICHARDSON Grandison I. viii, You have neither wings to your shoulder, nor gad-fly in your cap: you [[love]] home.

:b. A person who is constantly ‘gadding about’.

:b. A [[person]] who is constantly ‘gadding about’.

::1614 BEAUM. & FL. Wit. at Sev. Weapons IV. ii, Where are those gad-flies going? to some junket now. 1754 RICHARDSON Grandison I. xviii. 125 Your Harriet may turn gad-fly, and never be easy but when she is forming parties.

::1614 BEAUM. & FL. Wit. at Sev. Weapons IV. ii, Where are those gad-flies going? to some junket now. 1754 RICHARDSON Grandison I. xviii. 125 Your Harriet may turn gad-fly, and never be easy but when she is forming parties.

*4. attrib., as gad-fly time; gad-fly haunted adj.

*4. attrib., as gad-fly time; gad-fly haunted adj.

:1846 C. G. PROWETT Prometh. Bound 28 The gadfly-haunted maid, whose charms have power To smite Jove's heart with love. 1893 D. JORDAN (‘Son of the Marshes’) Forest Tithes, etc. 197 In gadfly time it was a fine sight to see a herd of cattle charging along.

:1846 C. G. PROWETT Prometh. Bound 28 The gadfly-haunted maid, whose charms have [[power]] To smite Jove's [[heart]] with love. 1893 D. JORDAN (‘Son of the Marshes’) Forest Tithes, etc. 197 In gadfly time it was a fine [[sight]] to see a herd of cattle charging along.

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