Psilid
/ˈsaɪlɪd/noun
A fly belonging to the family Psilidae, commonly known as the rust flies.
Did you know?The family name Psilidae derives from Greek psilos, meaning “bare” or “smooth,” referring to the insects’ relatively hairless appearance—not to anything supernatural.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
psilós
“Bare, naked, smooth, or hairless”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
Psilidae
“Taxonomic family name formed from Greek psilos, “bare””
19th Century
Scientific Latin
Psilid
“A member of the fly family Psilidae”
Modern English
English
psilid
“A rust fly of the family Psilidae”
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