sb. pl. Also 6 canterides, 5–7 cantarides, 9 cantharids. Rarely in sing. 5 cantharide. [L.; pl. of cantharis, a. Gr. κανθαρίς blister-fly.]
1. (sing. Cantharis in Entom.) A genus of coleopterous insects of the family Trachelidæ; the officinal species (C. vesicatoria or Spanish Fly) has golden-green elytra. Early writers appear to have applied the name to Aphides.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. lxv. (1495), 642. Grene flyes brede in corne that ben callyd Ca[n]tarides.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., I. 865. The cantharide in roses that we se.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 112. One kind … is in colour greene: in humor or iuice verie poysonous, and is called Cantharis.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T., 73 a. The greene venemous flies Cantharides.
a. 1625. Cope, in Gutch, Coll. Cur., I. 121. The Cantharides ever have, and will crop the fairest flowers.
1878. Dowden, Stud. Lit., 418. The cantharides vibrating in the transparent air.
2. The pharmacopœial name of the dried beetle Cantharis vesicatoria or Spanish Fly. Used externally as a rubefacient and vesicant; internally as a diuretic and stimulant to the genito-urinary organs, etc. Formerly considered an aphrodisiac.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg. And make no scarres, but blysters as canterides.
1579. Langham, Gard. Health (1633), 531. Apply it on the bare skinne, to make blisters and holes, euen as Cantarides doth.
1611. Beaum. & Fl., Philaster, IV. i. Before, she was common talk; now, none dare say, cantharides can stir her.
1831. Youatt, Horse, xii. (1847), 252. Some stimulating liniment … consisting of turpentine or tincture of cantharides.
1847. Emerson, Poems, Mithridates, Wks. (Bohn), I. 410. Give me agates for my meat; Give me cantharids to eat.
fig. 1598. E. Gilpin, Skial. (1878), 32. They are Philosphicke true Cantharides To vanities dead flesh.
1601. B. Jonson, Poetaster, V. i. I, you whoreson cantharides! was it I?
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 93. Swallowing down repeated provocatives of cantharides to our love of liberty.
