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: any of various stout dipteran flies (family Oestridae) with larvae parasitic in cavities or tissues of various mammals including humans
Examples of botfly in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Several also showed signs of untreated medical conditions, and their coats were embedded with botfly eggs and hoof neglect.
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Chris Barilla, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024
The video shows a type of botfly, Cuterebra ruficus, experts told USA TODAY.
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Dezimey Kum, USA TODAY, 28 July 2022
When one of these pests bites you, the botfly eggs make their way onto your skin and then underneath it.
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Outside Online, 14 July 2015
On the third day, when Robey opened the cooler, there was still ice inside—but also a writhing pile of botfly maggots all over the meat.
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Will Brantley, Field & Stream, 28 Sep. 2020
But there’s no vaccine for malaria, chikungunya, or the human botfly.
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Nell Zink, Harper's magazine, 28 Oct. 2019
This video is about the botfly's horrific larvae, which grow and feed in human flesh.
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Matt Simon, WIRED, 25 May 2018
Behold the botfly, whose larva burrows into your skin, feeds on your flesh, and erupts out in alien fashion.
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Matt Simon, WIRED, 11 Apr. 2016
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Word History
First Known Use
circa 1775, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near botfly
Cite this Entry
“Botfly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/botfly. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
botfly
noun
bot·fly
ˈbät-ˌflī
: any of various stout two-winged flies whose larvae are parasitic in various mammals
Medical Definition
botfly
noun
bot·fly
ˈbät-ˌflī
plural botflies
: any of various stout dipteran flies of the family Oestridae that have larvae parasitic in cavities or tissues of various mammals including humans
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