musca

ae, f.

Sanscr. makshikà, a fly; Gr. μυῖα, of which musca, μυἱσκα, may be a dim. form; cf. Germ. Mücke; Engl. midge, musquito

I. a fly, Varr. R. R. 3, 16: puer, abige muscas, Cic. de Or. 2, 60, 247: muscas fugare, Mart. 3, 82, 12: muscas captare ac stilo praeacuto configere (solebat Domitianus), Suet. Dom. 3.—Transf., of troublesome persons.—So of inquisitive, prying people, Plaut. Merc. 2, 3, 26; of obtrusive, unbidden guests, id. Poen. 3, 3, 76.
Lewis & Short
A Latin Dictionary, 1879
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