[ˈflaː] Southern US, General South African, /aɪ̯/-ungliding
[ˈflaɪ̯]
[ˈflɒ̈ɪ̯] (Australia)
Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *plew-
Proto-Indo-European *plewk-
Proto-Indo-European *-eti
Proto-Indo-European *pléwketi
Proto-Germanic *fleuganądeverb.
Proto-Germanic *fleugǭ
Proto-West Germanic *fleugā
Old English flēoge
Middle English flye
English fly
From Middle English fflye, flehe, flei, fleie, fley, fleye, fleȝe, flie, fliȝe, flye, vliȝe, vlye, from Old English flēge, flēoge, flīeġe (“a fly”), from Proto-West Germanic *fleugā, from Proto-Germanic *fleugǭ (“a fly”), from Proto-Indo-European *plewk- (“to flow, fly, run; to splash”), enlargement of *plew- (“to flow, fly, run”).
Cognates
Cognate with Scots flee, flei (“fly”), North Frisian fleeg (“fly”), Saterland Frisian Fljooge (“fly”), Alemannic German Flüüge (“fly”), Cimbrian blòiga, vlòiga (“fly”), Dutch vlieg (“fly”), German Fliege (“fly”), Low German Fleeg (“fly”), Vilamovian fłig, fłyjǵ (“fly”), Yiddish פֿליג (flig, “fly”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål flue (“fly”), Faroese, Icelandic, and Swedish fluga (“fly”), Norwegian Nynorsk fluga, fluge, fluggu, flugu (“fly”).
Meanings
Any insect of the order Diptera; characterized by having two wings (except for some wingless species), also called true flies.
Devils Lake is where I began my career as a limnologist in 1964, studying the lake’s neotenic salamanders and chironomids, or midge flies. […] The Devils Lake Basin is an endorheic, or closed, basin covering about 9,800 square kilometers in northeastern North Dakota. 2012 January 14, Douglas Larson, “Runaway Devils Lake”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, page 46:
(qualifier:non-technical) Especially, any of the insects of the family Muscidae, such as the common housefly (other families of Diptera include mosquitoes and midges).
When you're well enough off so's you don't have to fret about anything but your heft or your diseases you begin to get queer, I suppose. And the queerer the cure for those ailings the bigger the attraction. A place like the Right Livers' Rest was bound to draw freaks, same as molasses draws flies. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter V, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
October in Orania can be charming. When the sun sets, long ribbons of burnt orange settle on the horizon. The flies and mosquitoes that come with the oppressive summer heat haven’t arrived yet. It is Magdalene Kleynhans’ favourite time of year. “You can sit outside until late into the night,” says the businesswoman, whose family spend much of their time outdoors. Her children fish from the banks of the Orange River whenever they choose. Kleynhans leaves the house unlocked. “It’s a good life. It’s a big privilege.” 2019 October 24, Dennis Webster, “'An indictment of South Africa': whites-only town Orania is booming”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 29 Mar 2022:
Those or any similar but not closely related insect, such as a dragonfly, butterfly, or gallfly.
A lightweight fishing lure resembling an insect.
I went on trying for fish along the western bank down the river, but only small trout rose at my flies, and a score was the total catch. 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 152:
A chest exercise performed by moving extended arms from the sides to in front of the chest. (also flye)
The butterfly stroke (plural is normally flys).
(obsolete) A witch's familiar.
a trifling fly, none of your great familiars 1610 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Alchemist, London: […] Thomas Snodham, for Walter Burre, and are to be sold by Iohn Stepneth, […], published 1612, →OCLC, (please specify the Internet Archive page), (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
(obsolete) A parasite.
The fly that plays too near the flame burns in it. 1636, Philip Massinger, “The Bashful Lover”, in William Gifford, editor, The Plays of Philip Massinger, published 1845, act 1, scene 1, page 470:
(qualifier:preceded by definite article) A simple dance in which the hands are shaken in the air, popular in the 1960s.
gd cuileag (insect of the family Muscidae) · grc μυῖα (insect of the family Muscidae) · ar دبانة (insect of the family Muscidae) · sh mùva (insect of the order Diptera) · yi פֿליג (insect of the family Muscidae) · tbc gbdai (insect of the family Muscidae) · ja ハエ目 (insect of the order Diptera) · sne tura (insect of the family Muscidae) · dsb mucha (insect of the family Muscidae) · fi kaksisiipinen (insect of the order Diptera) · mvv togonok (insect of the family Muscidae) · ga bréagchuil (fishing lure) · frp mouche (insect of the family Muscidae) · mt dubbiena (insect of the family Muscidae) · sl muha (insect of the family Muscidae) · amu kíchôⁿ (insect of the family Muscidae) · my ယင်ကောင် (insect of the family Muscidae) · el μύγα (insect of the order Diptera) · sh mùšica (insect of the order Diptera) · mr माशी (insect of the family Muscidae) · ceb langaw (insect of the order Diptera) · vec mósca (insect of the family Muscidae) · sv tvåvinge (insect of the order Diptera) · tl langaw (insect of the family Muscidae) · pt díptero (insect of the order Diptera) · gug mberu (insect of the family Muscidae) · ba себен (insect of the order Diptera) · atv кӧген (insect of the order Diptera) · nrf moûque (insect of the family Muscidae) · bg блесна́ (fishing lure) · sk mucha (insect of the family Muscidae) · wbp yumangi (insect of the order Diptera) · fa مَگَس (insect of the family Muscidae) · tyv кара-сээк (insect of the family Muscidae) · fi vipunosto (weightlifting exercise) · fo fluga (insect of the order Diptera) · cho chukani (insect of the order Diptera) · yue 烏蠅 /乌蝇 (insect of the family Muscidae) · pl mucha (insect of the family Muscidae) · rom mach (insect of the family Muscidae) · hu légy (insect of the family Muscidae) · txb tanaulyko (insect of the family Muscidae) · sxr 'alaliamʉ (insect of the family Muscidae) · vep kärbhaine (insect of the family Muscidae) · sw mfano wa inzi (fishing lure) · fo fluga (insect of the family Muscidae) · eo muŝo (insect of the order Diptera) · ttt məgəz (insect of the family Muscidae) · lld moscia (insect of the order Diptera) · nay tampali (insect of the family Muscidae) · ru му́ха (insect of the family Muscidae) · ddg upuru (insect of the family Muscidae) · zh цонйин (insect of the family Muscidae) · ba себен (insect of the family Muscidae) · id laler (insect of the family Muscidae) · gl mosca (insect of the family Muscidae) · gld дилуэктэ (insect of the family Muscidae) · kaw lalĕr (insect of the family Muscidae) · ml ഈച്ച (insect of the family Muscidae) · koi гут (insect of the family Muscidae) · fr mouche (insect of the family Muscidae) · lez тӏветӏ (insect of the family Muscidae) · ht mouch (insect of the family Muscidae) · zza mêsı (diq) (insect of the family Muscidae) · yue 雙翅目 /双翅目 (insect of the order Diptera) · rm tschitta (insect of the family Muscidae) · bjb yoombara (insect of the family Muscidae) · skv lúng (insect of the order Diptera) · nds Fleeg (insect of the order Diptera) · lmo mòsca (insect of the family Muscidae) · rhg masí (insect of the family Muscidae) · cs moucha (insect of the family Muscidae) · it mosca (insect of the order Diptera) · xsr རེང་མ (insect of the family Muscidae) · tg магас (insect of the family Muscidae) · sc musca (insect of the family Muscidae) · wbl maks (insect of the family Muscidae) · mkz ufulai (insect of the family Muscidae) · lo ມັກຂິກາ (insect of the family Muscidae) · kxd lalat (insect of the family Muscidae) · tyv сээк (insect of the family Muscidae) · qu chuspi (insect of the family Muscidae) · hi मगस (insect of the family Muscidae) · is fiskifluga (fishing lure) · de Flüüge (insect of the order Diptera) · is fluga (insect of the family Muscidae) · twf phų̀yuʼúna (insect of the family Muscidae) · bdr langou (insect of the family Muscidae) · alh wuɳɖil (insect of the family Muscidae) · mnp 蠅 /蝇 (insect of the family Muscidae) · cv шӑна (insect of the family Muscidae) · pl wahadłówka (fishing lure) · hak 烏蠅 /乌蝇 (insect of the family Muscidae) · be блешня́ (fishing lure) · be му́ха (insect of the family Muscidae) · fi fly (weightlifting exercise) · ltg myusa (insect of the family Muscidae) · yai бувва (insect of the family Muscidae) · fur moscje (insect of the family Muscidae) · ceb langaw (insect of the family Muscidae) · alt чымын (insect of the family Muscidae) · ro muscă (insect of the family Muscidae) · kmr mêş (insect of the family Muscidae) · th แมลงวัน (insect of the family Muscidae) · rsk муха (insect of the family Muscidae) · et kärbes (insect of the family Muscidae) · da flue (insect of the family Muscidae) · cu ⰿⱆⱈⰰ (insect of the family Muscidae) · te ఈగ (insect of the family Muscidae) · tpw meru (insect of the order Diptera) · tsg pikut (insect of the family Muscidae) · ca mosca (insect of the order Diptera) · ca mosca (insect of the family Muscidae) · sh му̀ва (insect of the order Diptera) · mnc ᡩᡝᡵᡥᡠᠸᡝ (insect of the family Muscidae) · atv кӧген (insect of the family Muscidae) · av тӏутӏ (insect of the family Muscidae) · nay tjilhi (insect of the family Muscidae) · om titiiisa (insect of the family Muscidae) · ti ሃመማ (insect of the family Muscidae) · iba lalat (insect of the family Muscidae) · awa माछी (insect of the family Muscidae) · sh mùha (insect of the family Muscidae) · nnt pootzah! (insect of the family Muscidae) · tr sinek (insect of the family Muscidae) · ta ஈ (insect of the family Muscidae) · yue 蒼蠅 /苍蝇 (insect of the family Muscidae) · km រុយ (insect of the family Muscidae) · crh çibin (insect of the family Muscidae) · id langau (insect of the family Muscidae) · msk langaw (insect of the family Muscidae) · za nengznyaen (insect of the family Muscidae) · aer amenge (insect of the order Diptera) · evn дылкэн (insect of the family Muscidae) · ky чымын (insect of the family Muscidae) · mr माशी (insect of the order Diptera) · mk му́ва (insect of the order Diptera) · fi perho (fishing lure) · arc ܕܒܒܐ (insect of the family Muscidae) · wao cʰíw (insect of the family Muscidae) · lo ແມງວັນ (insect of the family Muscidae) · mzn مهاز (insect of the family Muscidae) · mfe mous (insect of the family Muscidae) · fi kärpänen (insect of the family Muscidae) · mi rango (insect of the family Muscidae) · sh mùva (insect of the family Muscidae) · ja 蝿 (insect of the family Muscidae) · nmn gʘkxʻóõ (insect of the family Muscidae) · nb flue (insect of the family Muscidae) · inh моза (insect of the family Muscidae) · ar ذُبَابَة (insect of the family Muscidae) · pt mosca (fishing lure) · fa مَگَس (insect of the family Muscidae) · mi rangorango (insect of the order Diptera) · ast mosca (insect of the family Muscidae) · pl błystka wahadłowa (fishing lure) · az milçək (insect of the family Muscidae) · am ዝንብ (insect of the family Muscidae) · zza mês (insect of the order Diptera) · oc mosca (insect of the family Muscidae) · chl 'a'awet (insect of the family Muscidae) · cdo 蒲蠅 /蒲蝇 (insect of the family Muscidae) · nn fluge (fishing lure) · gan 蒼蠅 /苍蝇 (insect of the family Muscidae) · lzz მჭაჯი (insect of the family Muscidae) · nn fluge (insect of the family Muscidae) · gez ዝንብ (insect of the family Muscidae) · myv карво (insect of the family Muscidae) · ga cuileog (fishing lure) · kxd langau (insect of the family Muscidae) · zh 蠅 /蝇 (insect of the family Muscidae) · mn ялаа (insect of the family Muscidae) · nl vlieg (insect of the family Muscidae) · ce моза (insect of the family Muscidae) · ms langau (insect of the family Muscidae) · syl ꠝꠣꠈꠤ (insect of the family Muscidae) · id lalat (insect of the family Muscidae) · nnr dhababbu (insect of the family Muscidae) · hsn 蒼蠅 /苍蝇 (insect of the family Muscidae) · mdf кару (insect of the family Muscidae) · fa دوبالان (insect of the order Diptera) · cu моуха (insect of the family Muscidae) · bo སྦྲང་མ (insect of the order Diptera) · bg муха́ (insect of the order Diptera) · ka ბუზი (insect of the order Diptera) · mi rangorango (insect of the family Muscidae) · ja ハエ (insect of the family Muscidae) · tly muz (insect of the family Muscidae) · ro momeală (fishing lure) · et kahetiivaline (insect of the order Diptera) · nci zāyōlin (insect of the family Muscidae) · cop ⲁϥ (insect of the family Muscidae) · kjj мичаьг (insect of the family Muscidae) · mt dubbiena (insect of the order Diptera) · kk шыбын (insect of the family Muscidae) · te ఈగ (insect of the order Diptera) · oge მწერი (insect of the family Muscidae) · sa मक्षिका (insect of the family Muscidae) · xmf ჭანჯი (insect of the family Muscidae) · egy a:f:f-L3 (insect of the family Muscidae) · zku tapu (insect of the family Muscidae) · wrh burrimal (insect of the family Muscidae) · ckt гыръоӈавыт (insect of the order Diptera) · gor lango (insect of the family Muscidae) · nb flue (fishing lure) · krl kärbäine (insect of the family Muscidae) · rcf mous (insect of the family Muscidae) · oj oojiins (insect of the family Muscidae) · uk блешня́ (fishing lure) · kl niviugak (insect of the family Muscidae) · yo eṣinṣin (insect of the family Muscidae) · ab амҵ (insect of the family Muscidae) · bcl langaw (insect of the family Muscidae) · tt чебен (insect of the family Muscidae) · mi rango (insect of the order Diptera) · zh 蒼蠅 /苍蝇 (insect of the family Muscidae) · bh माछी (insect of the family Muscidae) · pam lango (insect of the order Diptera) · mel lelangau (insect of the family Muscidae) · tk siňek (insect of the family Muscidae) · akz chokano (insect of the order Diptera) · uk му́ха (insect of the family Muscidae) · ru двукры́лое (insect of the order Diptera) · bdk тӏутӏ (insect of the family Muscidae) · kqr namuk (insect of the family Muscidae) · wa moxhe (insect of the family Muscidae) · ota سیڭك (insect of the order Diptera) · ssy qaca (insect of the family Muscidae) · lnj malay (insect of the order Diptera) · mg fihitra (insect of the family Muscidae) · ia musca (insect of the family Muscidae) · la musca (insect of the order Diptera) · sk mucha (insect of the order Diptera) · de Fliege (insect of the order Diptera) · txb tanaulyko (insect of the order Diptera) · mg lalitra (insect of the family Muscidae) · ja ルアー (fishing lure) · ckt гыръоӈавыт (insect of the family Muscidae) · eo muŝo (insect of the family Muscidae) · es mosca (insect of the family Muscidae) · pt mosca (insect of the family Muscidae) · hi मक्खी (insect of the family Muscidae) · ja 双翅目 (insect of the order Diptera) · ur مَکھّی (insect of the family Muscidae) · mk му́шичка (fishing lure) · ilo ngilaw (insect of the family Muscidae) · zh （假餌釣魚的）魚餌 /（假饵钓鱼的）鱼饵 (fishing lure) · fr mouche (fishing lure) · nup dìnní (insect of the family Muscidae) · la musca (insect of the family Muscidae) · ug چىۋىن (insect of the family Muscidae) · af vlieg (insect of the order Diptera) · fr mouche (insect of the order Diptera) · zh 雙翅目 /双翅目 (insect of the order Diptera) · cjy 蠅子 /蝇子 (insect of the family Muscidae) · el μύγα (insect of the family Muscidae) · da flue (fishing lure) · xdk miyanung (insect of the family Muscidae) · it mosca (insect of the family Muscidae) · nnv thapu (insect of the family Muscidae) · rm mostga (insect of the order Diptera) · tl langaw (insect of the order Diptera) · ms lalat (insect of the family Muscidae) · ka ბუზი (insect of the family Muscidae) · sq mizë (insect of the family Muscidae) · ncj sayoli (insect of the family Muscidae) · zku tupurra (blowfly) (insect of the family Muscidae) · sv fluga (insect of the family Muscidae) · sv fluga (fishing lure) · uz pashsha (insect of the family Muscidae) · ht mouch (insect of the order Diptera) · tr sinek (fishing lure) · gl mosca (insect of the order Diptera) · to lango (insect of the family Muscidae) · sm lago (insect of the order Diptera) · qu ch'uspi (insect of the order Diptera) · ckb مێش (insect of the family Muscidae) · sh mùšica (insect of the family Muscidae) · th แมลงวัน (insect of the order Diptera) · cy clêr (insect of the family Muscidae) · lt musė (insect of the family Muscidae) · alt сеек (insect of the family Muscidae) · pjt punpunpa (insect of the order Diptera) · fur mosčhe (insect of the family Muscidae) · pon loahng (insect of the order Diptera) · ccc kasamelo (insect of the family Muscidae) · dlm muasca (insect of the family Muscidae) · he זְבוּב (insect of the family Muscidae) · zh 胡蠅 /胡蝇 (insect of the family Muscidae) · wbp yumangi (insect of the family Muscidae) · de Kunstköder (fishing lure) · ja 蠅 (insect of the family Muscidae) · ur مَگَس (insect of the family Muscidae) · zh 蠅子 /蝇子 (insect of the family Muscidae) · lmw hakáali (insect of the family Muscidae) · ps مچ (insect of the family Muscidae) · pjt punpunpa (insect of the family Muscidae) · ru блесна́ (fishing lure) · wuu 蒼蠅 /苍蝇 (insect of the family Muscidae) · ps مګس (insect of the family Muscidae) · hsb mucha (insect of the family Muscidae) · nv tséʼedǫ́ʼii (insect of the family Muscidae) · mk му́ва (insect of the family Muscidae) · alt чымын (insect of the order Diptera) · lb Méck (insect of the family Muscidae) · cop ⲁⲁϥ (insect of the family Muscidae) · zza mêsek (fishing lure) · csb mucha (insect of the family Muscidae) · es mosco (insect of the order Diptera) · bcl langaw (insect of the order Diptera) · ar ذُبَّانة (insect of the family Muscidae) · vi ruồi (insect of the family Muscidae) · fy mich (insect of the family Muscidae) · rup muscã (insect of the family Muscidae) · nhg söyuli̱ (insect of the family Muscidae) · mvv bulongor (insect of the family Muscidae) · or ମାଛି (insect of the family Muscidae) · rsk муха (insect of the order Diptera) · jje ᄑᆞ리 (insect of the family Muscidae) · tzj us (insect of the family Muscidae) · de Fliege (insect of the family Muscidae) · os бындз (insect of the family Muscidae) · tr sinek (insect of the order Diptera) · akl eangaw (insect of the family Muscidae) · ru му́ха (insect of the order Diptera) · bn মাছি (insect of the family Muscidae) · adt yapu (insect of the family Muscidae) · aer amenge (insect of the family Muscidae) · tqw ˀapansu·s (insect of the family Muscidae) · es mosca (fishing lure) · scn musca (insect of the family Muscidae) · vo musak (insect of the order Diptera) · ay chichillanka (insect of the family Muscidae) · io musho (insect of the order Diptera) · udm кут (insect of the family Muscidae) · tpi lang (insect of the family Muscidae) · tt ялтыравык (fishing lure) · rgn mósca (insect of the family Muscidae) · ruq muscă (insect of the family Muscidae) · grc μυῖα (insect of the order Diptera) · sh му̀ха (insect of the order Diptera) · de Blinker (fishing lure) · sat ᱨᱳ (insect of the family Muscidae) · sw nzi (insect of the order Diptera) · liv kärmi (insect of the family Muscidae) · tab чӏамчч (insect of the family Muscidae) · nn toveng (insect of the order Diptera) · pnt μυία (insect of the family Muscidae) · cku chokano (insect of the order Diptera) · sh му̀ха (insect of the family Muscidae) · nb toving (insect of the order Diptera) · af vlieg (insect of the family Muscidae) · wo weñ wi (insect of the family Muscidae) · zai bialazi (insect of the family Muscidae) · ig ijiji (insect of the family Muscidae) · lv muša (insect of the family Muscidae) · bg муха́ (insect of the family Muscidae) · xmf ჭანდი (insect of the family Muscidae) · ny ntchentche (insect of the family Muscidae) · zza mês (insect of the family Muscidae) · are menge (insect of the order Diptera) · nds Fleeg (insect of the family Muscidae) · chr ᏛᎦ (insect of the family Muscidae) · tt селкенмә алдавыч (fishing lure) · sw nzi (insect of the family Muscidae) · pdt Flieej (insect of the order Diptera) · ga cuileog bhréige (fishing lure) · sh му̀ва (insect of the family Muscidae) · ta ஈ (insect of the order Diptera) · oj oojiins (insect of the order Diptera) · sh му̀шица (insect of the order Diptera) · hsn 蚊子 (insect of the family Muscidae) · ga cuileog (insect of the family Muscidae) · sh mùha (insect of the order Diptera) · hy ճանճ (insect of the family Muscidae) · nb tovinge (insect of the order Diptera) · war langaw (insect of the order Diptera) · shi izi (insect of the family Muscidae) · dsb mucha (insect of the order Diptera) · sh му̀шица (insect of the family Muscidae) · ko 파리 (insect of the family Muscidae) · es mosca (insect of the order Diptera) · ota سیڭك (insect of the family Muscidae) · bo སྦྲང་བུ (insect of the family Muscidae) · jv laler (insect of the family Muscidae) · uk му́ха (insect of the order Diptera) · ar دبان (insect of the family Muscidae) · gl mosca (fishing lure) · xsb lango (insect of the order Diptera) · ks مٔچھ (insect of the family Muscidae) · eu euli (insect of the family Muscidae) · as মাখি (insect of the family Muscidae) · cy pryf (insect of the order Diptera) · rm mustga (insect of the family Muscidae) · tet lalar (insect of the family Muscidae)
[ˈflaː] Southern US, General South African, /aɪ̯/-ungliding
[ˈflaɪ̯]
[ˈflɒ̈ɪ̯] (Australia)
Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *plew-
Proto-Indo-European *plewk-
Proto-Indo-European *-eti
Proto-Indo-European *pléwketi
Proto-Germanic *fleuganą
Proto-West Germanic *fleugan
Old English flēogan
Middle English fliender.
English fly
From Middle English flei, fley, fleye, fleȝhenn, flien, fliȝe, flyen, flyyn, from Old English flēgan, flēogan, from Proto-West Germanic *fleugan, from Proto-Germanic *fleuganą (“to fly”), from Proto-Indo-European *plewk- (“to flow, fly, run; to splash”), enlargement of *plew- (“to flow, fly, run”). Compare Etymology 1.
Cognates
Cognate with Scots flei (“to fly”), Yola vlee (“to fly”), North Frisian fli, fliin, fliine, fliinj, flä, fläie, flö (“to fly”), Saterland Frisian fljoge, fljooge (“to fly”), West Frisian fleane (“to fly”), Central Franconian fleeje (“to fly”), Dutch vliegen (“to fly”), Low German flegen (“to fly”), German fliegen (“to fly”), Luxembourgish fléien (“to fly”), Vilamovian fłig (“to fly”), Yiddish פֿליִען (flien, “to fly”), Danish flyve (“to fly”), Faroese fljúgva, flúgva (“to fly”), Icelandic fljúga (“to fly”), Norwegian Bokmål fly, flyge, flyve (“to fly”), Norwegian Nynorsk fljuga, fly, flyga, flyge (“to fly”), Scanian flyğa (“to fly”), Swedish flyga (“to fly”); also Cornish lew (“rudder”), Old Irish luí (“rudder”), Welsh llyw (“rudder”), Latin pluit, pluō (“to rain”), Ancient Greek πλέω (pléō, “to sail; to float”), Lithuanian plaukti (“to swim; to float”), Bulgarian пля́скам (pljáskam, “to slap; to clap; to splash; to jabber; to blemish”), Czech pleskat (“to slap; to flap, lap”), Macedonian плеска (pleska, “to slap”), Russian плеска́ть (pleskátʹ, “to splash”), Serbo-Croatian пље̏скати, pljȅskati (“to applaud; to slap”), Ukrainian плеска́ти (pleskáty, “to splash”), Armenian լուանալ (luanal), լվալ (lval), լվանալ (lvanal, “to wash”), Tocharian A and Tocharian B plu- (“to fly”), Sanskrit प्लु (plu, “to float; to sail”). More at flee and flow.
Meanings
(intransitive) To travel through the air, another gas, or a vacuum, without being in contact with a grounded surface.
Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly. 1909, Gilbert Keith Chesterton, Orthodoxy:
The little fairy flew home on the back of her friend, the giant eagle.
Birds of passage fly to warmer regions as it gets colder in winter.
The probe flew beyond the solar system.
The railway is still vital to Jordan's export trade, but in spite of the poor quality of the road, diesel lorries are gradually robbing it of freight traffic, and anyone who can afford to fly does so rather than face the long desert journey by rail. 1956 March, R. C. Blaker, “The Hedjaz Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 167:
It takes about eleven hours to fly from Frankfurt to Hong Kong.
The Concorde flew from Paris to New York faster than any other passenger airplane.
I want to reach out and touch the sky / I want to touch the sun, but I don't need to fly 1972, “Supernaut”, performed by Black Sabbath:
Flying using only the power of the sun is an enticing prospect. But manned solar-powered aircraft are fragile and slow, […]. 2013 September 7, “On a bright new wing”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8852:
(intransitive) To travel through the air, another gas, or a vacuum, without being in contact with a grounded surface. ▸ To take a flight on a plane; to pilot or crew a plane.
My airline needs me to get clearance before I can fly again.
If we want to fly today, we need to leave for the airport right now.
(intransitive, of moths or butterflies) To travel through the air, another gas, or a vacuum, without being in contact with a grounded surface. ▸ To be in the winged adult stage.
This species flies from late summer until frost.
(colloquial, figuratively, intransitive, of a proposal, qualifier:project or idea) To travel through the air, another gas, or a vacuum, without being in contact with a grounded surface. ▸ To be accepted, come about or work out.
You know, I just don't think that's going to fly. Why don't you spend your time on something better?
Let's see if that idea flies.
(transitive) To cause to fly (travel or float in the air): to transport via air or the like.
This area, referred to as the fly loft, should typically be two and a half times taller than the proscenium opening in order to fly the scenery above the vertical sightlines of the first row of the audience. 2015, Jeromy Hopgood, Dance Production: Design and Technology, page 44:
A solar-powered unmanned aerial system (a UAS, more commonly called a drone) could fly long, lonely missions that conventional aircraft would not be capable of. 2013 September 7, “On a bright new wing”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8852:
Birds fly their prey to their nest to feed it to their young.
Charles Lindbergh flew his airplane The Spirit of St. Louis across the Atlantic ocean.
Each day the postal service flies thousands of letters around the globe.
The brave black flag I fly. 1879, W[illiam] S[chwenck] Gilbert, Arthur Sullivan, composer, The Pirates of Penzance […], Philadelphia: J.M. Stoddart & Co., published 1880, →OCLC:
(transitive) To cause to fly (travel or float in the air): to transport via air or the like. ▸ To arrange for someone to take a flight.
We flew the kids out to see their grandparents.
(transitive) To cause to fly (travel or float in the air): to transport via air or the like. ▸ To pilot a plane over a region or on a route.
This is the first time I flew the Pacific.
I'm hoping to fly the London-New York route so I can see the Big Apple again.
(transitive) To cause to fly (travel or float in the air): to transport via air or the like. ▸ To complete (a goal, task, mission, etc.) while crewing an aircraft or spacecraft.
NASA astronaut Mike Fincke is departing the agency on Wednesday after 30 years of service. Throughout his career, he flew four missions, spent 549 days in space, and completed nine spacewalks in support of the International Space Station. 2026 August 12, Lauren E. Low, “NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke Leaves NASA, Career Includes 4 Spaceflights”, in NASA, archived from the original on 13 Aug 2026:
(transitive) To cause to fly (travel or float in the air): to transport via air or the like. ▸ To hunt with a hawk.
We'll fly the partridge, or go rouse the deer. c. 1590, Robert Greene, Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay:
(ergative) To wave or flutter; to cause to wave or flutter.
When the wind picked up, her hair flew back behind her head.
In her dance, she holds her hands above her head to fly those colorful ribbons in the air.
(ergative) To wave or flutter; to cause to wave or flutter. ▸ To operate a kite (A lightweight toy or other device... carried on the wind and tethered and controlled from the ground by one or more lines).
Why don’t you go outside and fly kites, kids? The wind is just perfect.
(ergative) To wave or flutter; to cause to wave or flutter. ▸ To display (a flag) on a flagpole; to be displayed on a flagpole.
The American flag flies in every state and territory.
The flag flew at half-mast.
We flew the state flag under the national flag.
(ergative, figuratively, transitive) To wave or flutter; to cause to wave or flutter. ▸ To display (a flag) on a flagpole; to be displayed on a flagpole. ▸ To proudly and openly make one's allegiances or viewpoint apparent.
Only one candidate is willing to fly the conservative flag boldly.
She's really letting the freak flag fly.
(ergative, figuratively) To wave or flutter; to cause to wave or flutter. ▸ To display (a flag) on a flagpole; to be displayed on a flagpole. ▸ To symbolically rule over or control.
The French flag flew over Louisiana until 1803.
The king endeavored to fly his nation's flag over new territories.
(intransitive) To drain away or be expended quickly.
The family fortune flew in a few short years.
(dated, intransitive) To drain away or be expended quickly. ▸ To vanish; to fade away.
The mist flew by noon.
(figuratively, intransitive) To travel or proceed very fast; to hasten.
The dark waves murmured as the ship flew on. 1870, William Cullen Bryant (translator), The Iliad (originally by Homer)
Fly, envious Time, till thou run out thy race. 1645, John Milton, On Time:
After yet another missed penalty by Kvirikashvili from bang in front of the posts, England scored again, centre Tuilagi flying into the line and touching down under the bar. 2011 September 18, Ben Dirs, “Rugby World Cup 2011: England 41-10 Georgia”, in BBC Sport:
He flew down the hill on his bicycle.
It's five o'clock already. Doesn't time fly?
(figuratively, intransitive) To travel or proceed very fast; to hasten. ▸ To move suddenly, or with violence; to carry out an act suddenly or swiftly.
I was upstairs, trying hastily to fix my face and unredden my eyes when I heard a car on the drive and flew to a window to make sure that it was David. 1976, J. P. Reading, chapter 15, in Tanya, New York, N.Y.: Scholastic Book Services, →OCLC, page 174:
a door flies open
a bomb flies apart
And in respect of the great necessity there is, my darling, for more employments being within the reach of Woman than our civilisation has as yet assigned to her, don’t fly at the unfortunate men, even those men who are at first sight in your way, as if they were the natural oppressors of your sex […] 1859 December 13, Charles Dickens, “The Mortals in the House”, in Charles Dickens, editor, The Haunted House. The Extra Christmas Number of All the Year Round […], volume II, London: […] C[harles] Whiting, […], →OCLC, page 7, column 1:
(figuratively, intransitive) To travel or proceed very fast; to hasten. ▸ To proceed with great success.
His career is really flying at the moment.
One moment the company was flying high, the next it was on its knees.
(archaic, figuratively, intransitive, literary, transitive) To travel or proceed very fast; to hasten. ▸ To avoid or shun.
I must fly the temptation of drink.
(ambitransitive, archaic, figuratively, intransitive, poetic) To travel or proceed very fast; to hasten. ▸ To flee, to escape (from).
Sleep flies the wretch. 1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, John Dryden, transl., “[The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis.] The Fourteenth Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. […] Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC:
And boyhood is a summer sun
Whose waning is the dreariest one —
For all we live to know is known
And all we seek to keep hath flown — […] 1829, Edgar Allan Poe, “Tamerlane”, in Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems:
He staggered and fell, grasped vainly at the stone, and slid into the abyss. “Fly, you fools!” he cried, and was gone. 1954, J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring:
Fly, my lord! The enemy are upon us!
to fly the favours of so good a king c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
[V]pon a ſodaine, / As Falſtaffe, ſhe, and I, are newly met, / Let them [children dressed like "urchins, ouphes and fairies"] from forth a ſaw-pit ruſh at once / With ſome diffuſed ſong: Vpon their ſight / We two, in great amazedneſſe will flye: […] c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv], page 56, column 1:
Fly, ere evil intercept thy flight. 1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
sh bèžati (to flee) · bn ওড়া (to travel through air) · eu hegan egin (to travel through air) · ga sciurd (to travel very fast, to hasten) · pam sulapo (to travel through air) · ka ფრენა (to travel through air) · lmo volà (to travel through air) · kaw hibĕr (to travel through air) · es ser aceptado (to be accepted) · fr piloter (to cause to travel through the air) · hsb lećeć (to travel through air) · ht vole (to travel through air) · ps الوتل (to flee) · vi bay (to travel through air) · ja 飛ばす (to cause to travel through the air) · mi whakatare (to cause to travel through the air) · zza parnayen (to flee) · bg летя́ (to travel through air) · th บิน (to travel through air) · jv mabur (to travel through air) · mi tauwhaiwhai (to travel very fast, to hasten) · da vejre (to display a flag from a flagpole) · rom ural (to travel through air) · zea vliege (to travel through air) · su ngapung (to travel through air) · nrf voler (to travel through air) · sv flyga (to cause to travel through the air) · nn fly (to travel through air) · sw kukimbia (to flee) · frr flä (to travel through air) · da flyve (to travel through air) · es volar (to cause to travel through the air) · es circunvolar (to travel through air) · vo flitön (to travel through air) · sw kurusha (to cause to travel through the air) · hy թռչել (to travel through air) · grc πέτομαι (to travel through air) · es volar (to travel through air) · ug ئۇچماق (to travel through air) · kl timmivoq (to travel through air) · ar طَارَ (to travel through air) · ga eitil (to travel through air) · mrw layog (to travel through air) · ro arbora (to display a flag from a flagpole) · scn vulari (to travel through air) · ru переноси́ть (to cause to travel through the air) · so duulid (to travel through air) · ru вести́ (to cause to travel through the air) · mn нисэх (to travel through air) · jv miber (to travel through air) · ike tingijok (to travel through air) · mi whakatere (to cause to travel through the air) · ike pikik (to travel through air) · be лётаць (to travel through air) · ru перелета́ть (to travel through air) · ru сбега́ть (to flee) · sh бјѐжати (to flee) · sh bjèžati (to flee) · sh pòbeći (to flee) · ru быть при́нятым (to be accepted) · ban miber (to travel through air) · ru убега́ть (to flee) · tr uçurmak (to cause to travel through the air) · tr kaçmak (to flee) · de fliegen (to travel through air) · da fly (to flee) · mi rere (to travel through air) · nhx pata̱ni (to travel through air) · xul yerra (to travel through air) · ban keber (to travel through air) · ckb فْڕین (to travel through air) · zh 飛行 /飞行 (to travel through air) · eo flugigi (to cause to travel through the air) · ota اوچمق (to travel through air) · sh pòbjeći (to flee) · pl latać (to travel through air) · kl timmisartorpoq (to travel through air) · zea vliege (to flee) · si ඉගිල්ලෙනවා (to travel through air) · zh 逃跑 (to flee) · as উৰ (to travel through air) · tr uçmak (to travel through air) · kaw wőr (to travel through air) · mr उडवणे (to cause to travel through the air) · kjh учуғарға (to travel through air) · akl lupad (to travel through air) · ike tingik (to travel through air) · av боржизе (to travel through air) · ta பற (to travel through air) · egy p-pA-A-H5 (to travel through air) · tk uçmak (to travel through air) · km ហោះ (to travel through air) · yi פֿליִען (to travel through air) · lo ເຫາະ (to travel through air) · aot pyw (to travel through air) · ru носи́ть (to cause to travel through the air) · bua ниидэхэ (to travel through air) · eo fuĝi (to flee) · pt fazer voar (to cause to travel through the air) · ia volar (to travel through air) · ngh zeqa (to travel through air) · my ပျံ (to travel through air) · ar طار (to travel through air) · el πετώ (to travel through air) · fi paeta (to flee) · ltg skrīt (to travel through air) · mk пребегува (to flee) · hsb lětać (to travel through air) · sc bobai (to travel through air) · ttj -hurruka (to travel through air) · txb plu- (to travel through air) · ba осоу (to travel through air) · rup azboair (to travel through air) · clt zu (to travel through air) · gd itealaich (to travel through air) · cu лѣтати (to travel through air) · jv kabur (to travel through air) · fi lähteä lentoon (to be accepted) · sl leteti (to travel through air) · be палята́ць (to travel through air) · yai фурак (to travel through air) · ru транспорти́ровать (to cause to travel through the air) · nv yitʼah (to travel through air) · et lendama (to travel through air) · mk летне (to travel through air) · zh 飛 /飞 (to travel through air) · sk letieť (to travel through air) · bg ле́тна (to travel through air) · gl fuxir (to flee) · be палётаць (to travel through air) · qu pawai (to travel through air) · sc bolai (to travel through air) · yo fò (to travel through air) · war lupad (to travel through air) · rup azbor (to travel through air) · dsb leśeś (to travel through air) · sv fly (to flee) · pl biec (to travel very fast, to hasten) · tr uçmak (to cause to travel through the air) · ro zbura (to travel through air) · fi lentää (to move suddenly with violence) · gd falbh air iteig (to travel through air) · uz uchmoq (to travel through air) · pap bula (to travel through air) · ps الوتل (to cause to travel through the air) · fi tulla hyväksytyksi (to be accepted) · ln pepe (to travel through air) · sh uklopiti (to be accepted) · fur svolâ (to travel through air) · yue 飛 /飞 (to travel through air) · kk ұшу (to travel through air) · az uçmaq (to travel through air) · ca fugir (to flee) · ka გაქცევა (to flee) · to puna (to travel through air) · vec sguołar (to travel through air) · he הֵטִיס (to cause to travel through the air) · ps الوتل (to travel through air) · rap rere (to travel through air) · zza perayen (to travel through air) · tl lumipad (to travel through air) · sh lètjeti (to travel through air) · it volare (to travel through air) · frr fliinj (to travel through air) · vec sgołar (to travel through air) · fo flúgva (to travel through air) · fi rientää (to travel very fast, to hasten) · nb fly (to flee) · uk леті́ти (to travel through air) · cy hedfan (to travel through air) · mt tar (to travel through air) · io aviacar (to cause to travel through the air) · ban makeber (to travel through air) · it scappare (to flee) · haw lele (to travel through air) · sah көт (to travel through air) · yur letkolek' (to travel through air) · qu phaway (to flee) · te ఎగరవేయు (to cause to travel through the air) · ru лета́ть (to travel through air) · rhg uro (to travel through air) · gl facer voar (to cause to travel through the air) · bo འཕུར (to travel through air) · ur اُڑْنا (to travel through air) · gd dèan iteag (to travel through air) · pjt parpakaṉi (to travel through air) · vo fugön (to flee) · mi whakatare (to display a flag from a flagpole) · qu paarii (to travel through air) · mi whakaturuturu (to cause to travel through the air) · mr फडकवणे (to display a flag from a flagpole) · tsg lupad (to travel through air) · vec xolar (to travel through air) · koi лэбны (to travel through air) · sh lèteti (to travel through air) · de fliehen (to flee) · ca onejar (to display a flag from a flagpole) · bh उड़ल (to travel through air) · tr gitmek (to travel through air) · ca volar (to travel through air) · nn flyge (to travel through air) · bni yumbwa (to travel through air) · hu repül (to travel through air) · hu száll (to travel through air) · zza tılo bıyen (to travel through air) · it fuggire (to flee) · gl voar (to travel through air) · egy a:p-H5 (to travel through air) · he עָף (to travel through air) · km ហើរ (to travel through air) · tr gitmek (to cause to travel through the air) · nci patlāni (to travel through air) · fi lentää (to travel very fast, to hasten) · mr उडणे (to travel through air) · nb fly (to travel through air) · kmr firîn (to travel through air) · fi lentää (to travel through air) · cdo 飛 /飞 (to travel through air) · am በረረ (to travel through air) · cs létat (to travel through air) · ky учуу (to travel through air) · es colar (to be accepted) · fi kiitää (to travel very fast, to hasten) · vec zolàre (to travel through air) · fr faire voler (to cause to travel through the air) · fi ottaa tuulta (to be accepted) · sk lietať (to travel through air) · lb fléien (to travel through air) · rm svular (to travel through air) · tr seyahat etmek (to cause to travel through the air) · tpw bebé (to travel through air) · ca pilotar (to cause to travel through the air) · hy թռնել (to travel through air) · unm pëmihëla (to travel through air) · tyz bên (to cause to travel through the air) · ang flēogan (to flee) · ru спаса́ться (to flee) · tg парвоз кардан (to travel through air) · it darsela a gambe (to flee) · xsr འཕུར (to travel through air) · be паляце́ць (to travel through air) · sh letiti (to travel through air) · nl besturen (to cause to travel through the air) · fi lennättää (to cause to travel through the air) · vec svołar (to travel through air) · sq fluturoj (to travel through air) · mfe anvole (to travel through air) · mk одлета (to travel through air) · sm lele (to travel through air) · fi liputtaa (to display a flag from a flagpole) · de fliegen lassen (to cause to travel through the air) · roa-tar vulà (to travel through air) · ilo tumayab (to travel through air) · pt voar (to travel through air) · ta செல் (to be accepted) · eve дэгдэй (to travel through air) · ngh zeqe (to travel through air) · it fuggire a gambe levate (to flee) · mba layang (to travel through air) · jje ᄂᆞᆯ리다 (to cause to travel through the air) · hu repít (to cause to travel through the air) · csb latac (to travel through air) · ru лете́ть (to travel through air) · tl lipad (to travel through air) · war lagbaw (to travel through air) · af vlieg (to travel through air) · bo བཏང (to cause to travel through the air) · fi lentää (to cause to travel through the air) · ms menerbangkan (to cause to travel through the air) · es hacer volar (to cause to travel through the air) · ru проходи́ть (to be accepted) · fa پَریدَن (to travel through air) · ofs fliāga (to travel through air) · zh 坐飛機 /坐飞机 (to travel through air) · ro înălța (to cause to travel through the air) · mi whakaangi (to cause to travel through the air) · egy a:X-H5 (to travel through air) · mtq păl (to travel through air) · mk лета (to travel through air) · atv ужарга (to travel through air) · dlg көт (to travel through air) · cs letět (to travel through air) · lt skraidyti (to travel through air) · fi ohjata (to cause to travel through the air) · tft soro (to travel through air) · jje ᄂᆞᆯ다 (to travel through air) · ms terbang (to travel through air) · arc ܦܪܚ (to travel through air) · ja 飛ぶ (to travel through air) · zza şıyen (to cause to travel through the air) · lt skristi (to travel through air) · fo fljúgva (to travel through air) · sc bolare (to travel through air) · mi hūpana (to move suddenly with violence) · sh по̀бећи (to flee) · nv yoołtʼah (to travel through air) · zdj huyeuha (to travel through air) · ppl patani (to travel through air) · rsk лєциц (to travel through air) · be лята́ць (to travel through air) · pl biegać (to travel very fast, to hasten) · is flýja (to flee) · ru переправля́ть (to cause to travel through the air) · evn дэгми (to travel through air) · msk layog (to travel through air) · fa پَرْواز کَرْدَن (to travel through air) · rm sgular (to travel through air) · nl aanslaan (to be accepted) · rsk полєциц (to travel through air) · kaw wur (to travel through air) · es huir (to flee) · id terbang (to travel through air) · udm лобыны (to travel through air) · tet semo (to travel through air) · is fljúga (to travel through air) · wa voler (to travel through air) · dsb lětaś (to travel through air) · ko 날다 (to travel through air) · be ляце́ць (to travel through air) · tyz bên (to travel through air) · lv lidot (to travel through air) · ru приноси́ть (to cause to travel through the air) · nb flyge (to travel through air) · su hiber (to travel through air) · ang flēogan (to travel through air) · sc borai (to travel through air) · tr uçmak (to travel very fast, to hasten) · mi rere (to flee) · fo flýggja (to flee) · mad ngabber (to travel through air) · rm svuler (to travel through air) · gld дэгдэ- (to travel through air) · pms volé (to travel through air) · ssy fire (to travel through air) · ln pumbwa (to travel through air) · pt fugir (to flee) · th หนี (to flee) · io flugar (to travel through air) · kmr firrîn (to travel through air) · tg паридан (to travel through air) · qu phaway (to travel through air) · ceb lupad (to travel through air) · ykh ниисэкү (to travel through air) · sh лѐтјети (to travel through air) · cu летѣти (to travel through air) · sc volare (to travel through air) · da blafre (to display a flag from a flagpole) · de flüchten (to flee) · eo flugi (to travel through air) · nl vliegen (to travel through air) · uk літа́ти (to travel through air) · he טָס (to travel through air) · hi उड़ना (to travel through air) · sh бѐжати (to flee) · mn ᠨᠢᠰᠬᠦ (to travel through air) · yue 坐飛機 /坐飞机 (to travel through air) · el πετώ (to flee) · yur lolek' (to travel through air) · alt учар (to travel through air) · mnc ᡩᡝᠶᡝᠮᠪᡳ (to travel through air) · sh по̀бјећи (to flee) · pl lecieć (to travel through air) · sv flyga (to travel through air) · nl lukken (to be accepted) · de fliegen (to cause to travel through the air) · xng ᠨ᠋ᠢᠰᠬᠦ (to travel through air) · ast volar (to travel through air) · mk бега (to flee) · fr voler (to travel through air) · de fahren (to cause to travel through the air) · fy fleane (to travel through air) · unm kënthwi (to travel through air) · oc volar (to travel through air) · sv flagga (to display a flag from a flagpole) · mi whakarere (to cause to travel through the air) · ms تربڠ (to travel through air) · ltg skraideit (to travel through air) · la volō (to travel through air) · sw kuruka (to travel through air) · zza peren (to cause to travel through the air) · nds flegen (to travel through air) · bcl layog (to travel through air) · sh лѐтети (to travel through air) · nl vluchten (to flee) · ug قاچماق (to flee) · tr kanatlanmak (to travel through air) · es ir volando (to travel very fast, to hasten)
A piece of canvas that covers the opening at the front of a tent.
(India, obsolete) The sloping or roof part of the canvas of a tent.
[T]he main part of the operation of pitching the tent, consisting of raising the flies, may be performed, and shelter afforded, without the walls, &c., being present. 1810, Thomas H. Williamson, The East India Vade-Mecum, page 452:
After I had changed my riding-habit for my one other gown, I came out to join the general under the tent-fly. 1885, Elizabeth Bacon Custer, Boots and Saddles:
The cavalcade drew up in line, / Pitch'd the marquee, and went to dine. / The bearers and the servants lie / Under the shelter of the fly. 1816, The Grand Master, or Adventures of Qui Hi, page 152:
(qualifier:often in the plural with the same meaning) A strip of material (sometimes hiding zippers or buttons) at the front of a pair of trousers, pants, underpants, bootees, etc.
February 2014 Y-Front Fly
Y-Front is a registered trademark for a special front fly turned upside down to form a Y owned by Jockey® International. The first Y-Front® brief was created by Jockey® more than 70 years ago.
your fly's undone/down
June 2014 The Hole In Men’s Underwear: Name And Purpose
Briefs were given an opening in the front. The point of this opening (the ‘fly’) was to make it easier to pee with clothes on
your flies are undone/down (same meaning)
Ha-ha! Your fly's undone!
The moving portion of an extendable ladder.
The free edge of a flag.
The horizontal length of a flag.
An exercise that involves wide opening and closing of the arms perpendicular to the shoulders.
The part of a weather vane pointing the direction from which the wind blows.
That part of a compass on which the points are marked; the compass card.
to the fly of the compass, which before was made equal, I was still constrained to put some small piece of wire on the south part there a. 1850, Robert Norman, (Please provide the book title or journal name):
Two or more vanes set on a revolving axis, to act as a fanner, or to equalize or impede the motion of machinery by the resistance of the air, as in the striking part of a clock.
(abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of flywheel.
(historical) A type of small, light, fast horse-drawn carriage that can be hired for transportation (sometimes pluralised flys).
And, driving back in the fly, Macmaster said to himself that you couldn't call Mrs. Duchemin ordinary, at least. 1924, Ford Madox Ford, Some Do Not… (Parade's End), Penguin, published 2012, page 54:
Can I get a fly, or a carriage of any kind? Is it too late?
I dismissed the fly a mile distant from the park, and getting my directions from the driver, proceeded by myself to the house. 1859, Wilkie Collins, The Woman in White:
As we left the house in my fly, which had been waiting, Van Helsing said:— ‘Tonight I can sleep in peace [...].’ 1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula, Westminster [London]: Archibald Constable and Company, […], →OCLC:
Chepstow is good for excursions, and Bradshaw tells me I can get a fly to Tintern Abbey, although the fare structure seems particularly complicated. Alternatively, I could go for a simpler choice and just opt for "single horse, 1s", although I doubt I'd survive to tell the tale. 2023 February 22, Stephen Roberts, “Reading... between the lines... to Wales”, in RAIL, number 977, page 59:
“[…] She takes the whole thing with desperate seriousness. But the others are all easy and jovial—thinking about the good fare that is soon to be eaten, about the hired fly, about anything.” 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XVI, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
A fly carried him rapidly to Lady Clavering’s house from the station […] 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 74, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:
Then we read at New Southgate and Colney Hatch, that "Cabs are on stand at station from 9 a.m. to departure of last down train. Private omnibuses, flys and other conveniences can be had at short notice on application to Messrs. Walker & Son." At country stations we are often told, "a fly may be obtained on application to Mrs. Brown of the Black Dog," or some other cheery information. 1941 December, “Notes and News: Timetable features of the Past”, in Railway Magazine, page 570:
A glass coach, it may be as well to observe, is a carriage and pair hired by the day, and a fly a one-horse carriage hired in a similar manner. 1861, Henry Mayhew, William Tuckniss, London Labour and the London Poor: A Cyclopœdia of the Condition and Earnings of Those that Will Work, Those that Cannot Work, and Those that Will Not Work, volume 3, page 359:
In a knitting machine, the piece hinged to the needle, which holds the engaged loop in position while the needle is penetrating another loop; a latch.
The pair of arms revolving around the bobbin, in a spinning wheel or spinning frame, to twist the yarn.
A shuttle driven through the shed by a blow or jerk.
(historical) The person who took the printed sheets from the press.
(historical) A vibrating frame with fingers, attached to a power printing press for doing the same work.
One of the upper screens of a stage in a theatre.
It was as if I been idling on a brightly lit stage-set of a country garden, ripe with every sort of pastoral fancy, and then had turned a flat and come on the stagehands and the wings, the propped sets, the men working in the flies—all the dark mechanics that produced the pretty picture the audience saw. 2006, Alistair Cooke, The American Home Front, 1941-1942, page 128:
bg шлиц (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · es calesa (type of small, fast carriage) · tr patlet (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · bg полет (act of flying) · csm homó·košu- (act of flying) · mk лет (act of flying) · fi lento (act of flying) · sw gari (type of small, fast carriage) · ru пролётка (type of small, fast carriage) · ja フライ (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · gd spaidhir (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · es bragueta (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · ga plapa (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · zh 褲門 /裤门 (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · sh шлиц (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · cs poklopec (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · da gylp (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · fr braguette (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · zh 飛行 /飞行 (act of flying) · nl gulp (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · tr dükkân (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · nl vlucht (act of flying) · no glidelås (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · zza peret (act of flying) · mk летање (act of flying) · cy copis (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · ro fermoar (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · sh let (act of flying) · cy balog (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · es jareta (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · el πέταγμα (act of flying) · fo splitta (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · sv gylf (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · fi sepalus (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · ru мотня́ (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · ro șliț (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · ca bragueta (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · is flugur (free edge of a flag) · ja ファスナー隠し (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · hu slicc (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · pt zíper (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · it braghetta (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · bg дюкян (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · de Hosenschlitz (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · ga cailpís (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · tr uçuş (act of flying) · sms brålleǩ (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · sh šlic (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · bg лете́не (act of flying) · ru шири́нка (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · ru полёт (act of flying) · it brachetta (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · lt klynas (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · ja 社会の窓 (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · zh 褲子的拉鏈 /裤子的拉链 (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · ja ボタン隠し (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · no gylf (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · no gylf (piece of canvas that covers the opening of a tent) · fi leveys (horizontal length of a flag) · is rennilás (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · pt braguilha (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · fi liehureuna (free edge of a flag) · zza şıyış (act of flying) · el πατ (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · pt voo (act of flying) · pl rozporek (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · ru по́лог (piece of canvas that covers the opening of a tent) · lt skrydis (act of flying) · it bottega (strip that hides the opening of trousers/pants or underpants — see also zipper) · es vuelo (act of flying)
be assured, O man of sin—pilferer of small wares and petty larcener—that there is an eye within keenly glancing from some loophole contrived between accordions and tin breastplates that watches your every movement, and is "fly,"— to use a term peculiarly comprehensible to dishonest minds—to the slightest gesture of illegal conveyancing. 1854, Charles Dickens, “Household Words”, in Arcadia, volume 7, page 381:
(slang) Clandestine, surreptitious
Some say God was an alien that tampered with our DNA, the 3 kings followed ufos & Mary had a fly shag 🤔🤫 2023 December 1, @Davo_Mack, Twitter:
(slang) Well dressed, smart in appearance; in style, cool.
How NOT to Facebook / […] no naked pictures, no deep emotions (awkward), no tagging a bunch of people in a picture of some fly Nikes, no making dinner plans (just use a PHONE). 2012, Lindy West, Dan Savage, Christopher Frizzelle, How to Be a Person: The Stranger's Guide to College, Sex, Intoxicants, Tacos, and Life Itself:
I'm so fly, I don't even try / I get so high, I can touch the sky / Dress for myself, I don't dress for hype / I dress for myself, you dress for the likes 2019, “Balenciaga”, performed by Princess Nokia:
He's pretty fly.
Harry [Styles] and Grimmy had struck up quite a friendship with Rita [Ora] and a few weeks earlier had been seen at G-A-Y for her album launch. She tweeted a picture of the trio saying: ‘Thanks for coming my little fashionistas. Looking flyer than a mofo.’ 2013, Louisa Jepson, “‘At the moment it appears I have, like 7000 girlfriends’”, in Harry Styles: Every Piece of Me, London: Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, published 2014, →ISBN, page 209:
when Ortega got fixed up in his fly duds like that, an ord'nary man's overcoat wouldn't make 'im a pair o' socks. 1888, Frederick Thickstun Clark, A Mexican Girl, page 270:
Give it to me, baby! Uh huh, uh huh! And all the girlies say, I’m pretty fly for a white guy. 1998, “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)”performed by The Offspring:
Starring the light-skinned Ron O'Neal with his shoulder-length perm and fly threads, Super Fly exudes a sense of black pride as O'Neal bucks the dope game, dismisses his white girlfriend, and beats The Man at his own hustle. 2001 September 14, “Super Fly”, in Vibe, volume 9, number 9, page 252:
A fly sister rolled in with a suitcase full of hip-hop novels called The Glamorous Life, and an African brother with long dreads wanted to sell them some incense and some fake Jacob watches. 2006, Noire [pseudonym], Thug-A-Licious: An Urban Erotic Tale, New York, N.Y.: One World, Ballantine Books, →ISBN, page 169:
(slang) Beautiful; displaying physical beauty.
Word is bond she looked divine, she looked as fly as can be
I thought she was different cause she was by herself
She looked real wholesome, and in good physical health 1991, “Busy Doin Nuthin”, in I Need a Haircut, performed by Biz Markie:
[Rahiem] My name brings peace and tranquility / So all the fly ladies' hearts can run free 1979, “We Rap More Mellow”, performed by The Younger Generation:
I rap for listeners, blunt heads, fly ladies and prisoners 1994, “Memory Lane (Sittin’ in da Park)”, in Illmatic, performed by Nas:
June 8, 1708, John Cock and William Nottingham desire 100 acres each [...] Isaac Davis desied a conveyance for the "greenbush" fly or swamp that he hath drained near his land, in the Jaagh Creupel-bosh. 1880, Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester, History of Ulster County, New York: With Illustrations and..., page 185:
[…] one certain Lot of the Long fly, or swamp situate lying and being [in] the Township of Flatlands […] recorded June 15, 1876, Liber 1244 of Conveyances, at page 494, Kings County. The "East Division" was the Long Vly, […] 1924, Frederick Van Wyck, Keskachauge: Or the First White Settlement on Long Island, page 321:
[…] to a white maple stake standing in a fly or swamp , thence N [...] to a Hemlock Stake, […] 1961, William Gideon Closson, The Josiah Closson Family of New England, page 110: