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Examples of Spanish fly in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In January 1862, Lewis’ two white roommates accused her of poisoning their wine with Spanish fly, a toxin produced by the blister beetle, often used in those days as an aphrodisiac.
—Jessica Lynne, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Feb. 2022
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Word History
First Known Use
circa 1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near Spanish fly
Cite this Entry
“Spanish fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Spanish%20fly. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Medical Definition
Spanish fly
noun1
: a green blister beetle (Lytta vesicatoria of the family Meloidae) of southern Europe that is the source of cantharides
More from Merriam-Webster on Spanish fly
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Spanish fly
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