any of a family (Chloropidae) of tiny dipterous flies whose larvae destroy grain, esp. a black species (Oscinella frit)
Word origin
< ? frit, from the glazed, shining appearance of the fly's body
frit fly in American English
noun
a minute European fly, Oscinella frit, the larvae of which are serious pests of wheat and other cereals
Word origin
[1880–85; of obscure orig.]This word is first recorded in the period 1880–85. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Chief of Staff, automatism, impressionism, jackpot, pari-mutuel