damselfly
nounUK /ˈdæmzəlflaɪ/
Etymology 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.
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.
- Synonyms
- darning needle, devil's darning needle
- Derived terms
- pond damselfly