Damselfly
/ˈdæmzəlflaɪ/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of various insects of the suborder Zygoptera that have long slender bodies, and are similar to dragonflies but having wings folded when at rest.
- 2 slender non-stinging insect similar to but smaller than the dragonfly but having wings folded when at rest wordnet
Antonyms
All antonymsEtymology
From damsel + fly, where damsel ultimately from Vulgar Latin *domnicella (whence also French demoiselle, Portuguese donzelinha). Compare Danish vandnymfe, Dutch juffer, Swedish jungfruslända, Welsh mursen. Also compare ladybird, ladybug, nymph.