damselfly

Meaning

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

dragonfly

bailiff

dragonflies

sheriff

spreadwing

Translations

demoiselle

controlador -a

Eintagsfliege

Libelle

höherer Gerichtsbeamter

Schlanklibelle

Schlankjungfer

Gemeindebote

Amtsbote

Gemeindediener

alguazil

libellule

demoiselles

zygoptera

birro

Pronounced as (IPA)

/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.