tsetse fly

[tset-see, tet-, tsee-tsee, tee-]

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

/ 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

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tsetse fly¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tsetse fly¹

C19: via Afrikaans from Tswana

Example Sentences

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

From Salon

They performed comparative analysis with tsetse flies and aphids, which do likewise, to unravel the genomic basis underlying this transition from laying eggs to birthing babies.

From Science Daily

Mother let her look through the microscope at wiggling creatures that lived inside the tsetse flies and made them deadly.

From Literature

Mama’s head snapped up, and she swatted the words away like tsetse flies.

From Literature

In New York, Dora was diagnosed with Chagas, which is cousin to the sleeping sickness caused by the African tsetse fly.

From Salon