[f. CRANE sb.1 1 + FLY.] A two-winged fly of the genus Tipula or family Tipulidæ, characterized by very long legs; in Great Britain popularly called daddy-long-legs.
1658. Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 943. A Water-fly, which men call from the length of the feet or shanks … Gruinam; called therefore in English a Crane Fly.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Crane-fly, a name given by some to the creature we commonly call father long-legs.
1835. Kirby, Hab. & Inst. Anim., II. xvi. 90. Their long legs [fit] the crane-fly to course rapidly over and among the herbage.
1857. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XVIII. I. 74. Marshes give birth to myriads of crane-flies.
