When to Use the Word “Fly”
WouterThe word fly can have several meanings, depending on how it’s used. It can refer to a winged insect, an airplane, or anything that moves through the air. However, it’s rarely used in English. Besides referring to an insect, flys can also be a verb, so it’s important to know when to use them correctly.
In British English, flies have a secondary meaning relating to openings in clothing. The word can also refer to zippers. The spelling of flies follows the same rules as most other words with a final consonant. It’s also possible to spell it as a noun if you prefer.
In modern English, fly is used to mean “move in the air” and “move through the air.” In period fiction, flys are used to describe a specific mode of transportation in nineteenth-century Great Britain. The word fly also refers to a winged insect, which is the most common example of an insect.
The verb fly is derived from the root word flit, which means “fly.” This verb meaning refers to the action of flying, and its extension to the agitation of wings. Houseflies and true flies are members of the Muscidae insect family, which also includes mosquitoes and midges. In addition to flying, flies can also flutter in and out of the nest or over objects.
