housefly

[hous-flahy] /ˈhaʊsˌflaɪ/
noun, plural houseflies.
1.
a medium-sized, gray-striped fly, Musca domestica, common around human habitations in nearly all parts of the world.
Also, house fly.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English; see house, fly2
Examples from the web for housefly
  • The common housefly is a marvel of aeronautical engineering.
  • The world's smallest known vertebrate is a frog the size of a housefly, a new study says.
  • No bigger than a housefly, the new species is the smallest known animal with a backbone, a new study says.
British Dictionary definitions for housefly

housefly

/ˈhaʊsˌflaɪ/
noun (pl) -flies
1.
a common dipterous fly, Musca domestica, that frequents human habitations, spreads disease, and lays its eggs in carrion, decaying vegetables, etc: family Muscidae
Word Origin and History for housefly
n.

early 15c., from house (n.) + fly (n.).