oestrus

Meaning

1. A biting fly of the genus Oestrus; a botfly.
2. A bite or sting.
3. A passion or frenzy.
4. A female animal's readiness to mate; heat, rut.

Synonyms

estrus

heat

rut

oestrum

gadfly

horse-fly

impulse

mating season

motive

passion

pride

stimulus

estrous cycle

anoestrus

oestrous cycle

sexual heat

ox-fly

heat period

be in heat

estrous period

botfly

frenzy

gad-fly

horsefly

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈiːstɹəs/

Etymology

Cognate with Latin: īra

Cognate with Lithuanian: aistra

Cognate with Avestan: 𐬀𐬈𐬯𐬨𐬀

In summary

Borrowed from Latin oestrus (“gadfly, sting, frenzy”), from Ancient Greek οἶστρος (oîstros), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁eys-, used to form words denoting passion; see also Latin īra (“anger”), Lithuanian aistra (“violent passion”), Avestan 𐬀𐬈𐬯𐬨𐬀 (aesma, “anger”).