Dictionary

father longlegs en · NOUN

Meanings

1. (dated) A daddy longlegs.
   • Such a glare […] was as sure to excite notice and attract passengers, as a flaming candle every moth and father-longlegs in its neighbourhood. 1928, Beckford, William, The Travel-Diaries of William Beckford of Fonthill:
   • The fly produced from the grub in question is known by the common names of Tom Taylor, Tommy Longlegs, or Father Longlegs 1806, The British Critic:
   • The Crane-Fly, called by Aldrovand Culex maximus, by Swammerdam Tipula terrestris, and by the common People Father-long-Legs, affords, in every Part of it, agreeable Subjects of Examination 1742, Henry Baker, The Microscope Made Easy: or […] :

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