Russian fly

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableold-fashionedtechnical

   A name once used for certain blister beetles, especially the Spanish fly, whose body contains a substance that can raise blisters on skin.

   Grammar: Countable; plural is 'Russian flies'. Often used with 'the' when referring to the beetle generally.

   Patterns

   • the Russian fly
   • a Russian fly

   In old books on medicine, the Russian fly is listed as a source of cantharidin.

   A Russian fly was once collected and dried for use in ointments.

   The Russian fly is not actually a fly but a type of beetle.

2. 2noununcountableold-fashionedmedical

   The dried body of such a beetle, formerly used in small amounts as a medicine to irritate the skin.

   Grammar: Uncountable when referring to the substance; use 'some Russian fly' or 'a dose of Russian fly'.

   Patterns

   • Russian fly in medicine
   • a preparation of Russian fly

   Apothecaries sold Russian fly as a blistering agent.

   Russian fly was applied to the skin to draw out inflammation.

Word forms

Common combinations

Russian fly beetle

The Russian fly beetle is actually a blister beetle.

Russian fly powder

Russian fly powder was once used as a traditional remedy.

Russian fly blister

A Russian fly blister can form when the beetle's fluid touches skin.

Synonyms and how they differ

Spanish fly

The most common name for Lytta vesicatoria; 'Russian fly' is an older, less precise term for similar beetles.

blister beetle

The general modern term for any beetle that produces cantharidin; 'Russian fly' is not a scientific name.

Commonly confused: Russian fly or fly?

Practice

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