[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

gadfly \gad"fly`\ ga^d"flimac`, n.; pl. gadflies. gad +
   fly. zool.
   any dipterous insect of the genus oestrus, and allied
   genera of botflies.
   1913 webster

   note: the sheep gadfly oestrus ovis deposits its young in
         the nostrils of sheep, and the larvae develop in the
         frontal sinuses. the common species which infests
         cattle hypoderma bovis deposits its eggs upon or in
         the skin where the larvae or bots live and produce
         sores called wormels. the gadflies of the horse produce
         the intestinal parasites called bots. see botfly, and
         bots. the true horseflies are often erroneously
         called gadflies, and the true gadflies are sometimes
         incorrectly called breeze flies.
         1913 webster

   gadfly petrel zool., one of several small petrels of the
      genus oestrelata.
      1913 webster
see also:
gadflies oestrus oestrus ovis hypoderma bovis botfly bots 
breeze flies gadfly petrel oestrelata 

Gadflies >> G Words
Gadflies, definition of term: Gadflies
gadflies_pag1.html