[FLY sb.1] A fly that frequents water and the water-side.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., V. ii. 60. Rather on Nylus mudde Lay me starke-naked, and let the water-Flies Blow me into abhorring.
1655. Moufet & Bennet, Health’s Improv., xii. 109. Water-rails … feed upon water-snails and water-flies.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist., VII. 359. The Common Water-Flie … is by some called the Notonecta.
1818. Keats, Endym., II. 135. Quick waterflies and gnats were sporting still.
1828. Davy, Salmonia, 53. Even in December and January there are a few small gnats or water flies on the water.
1910. Encycl. Brit., II. 28/1. The matching of the fly with the insect on the water is a matter of much nicety, for the water-flies are of many shades and colours.
fig. 1602. Shaks., Ham., V. ii. 84. Dost know this waterflie? Ibid. (1606), Tr. & Cr., V. i. 38. Ah how the poore world is pestred with such water-flies, diminutiues of Nature.
