I.a fly, Varr. R. R. 3, 16: “puer, abige muscas,” Cic. de Or. 2, 60, 247: “muscas fugare,” Mart. 3, 82, 12: “muscas captare ac stilo praeacuto configere (solebat Domitianus),” Suet. Dom. 3.—Transf., of troublesome persons.—So of inquisitive, prying people, Plaut. Merc. 2, 3, 26; “of obtrusive, unbidden guests,” id. Poen. 3, 3, 76.
musca , ae, f. Sanscr. makshikà, a fly; Gr. μυῖα, of which musca, μυἱσκα, may be a dim. form; cf. Germ. Mücke; Engl. midge, musquito,