Oestrus

From Fresh Dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun

English

Etymology

Latin, from Greek οιστρος ‘gadfly, breeze, sting, frenzy’.

Pronunciation

IPA: /'i:stɹəs/

Noun

Singular oestrus

Plural oestruses

1. a biting fly of the genus Oestrus; a botfly
2. (archaic) a passion or frenzy
3. a female animal's readiness to mate; heat, rut

   • 2001: ‘It’s the supremely human act, freely to fuck, not because you are on heat, or in oestrus, like an animal, but to give and receive pleasure.’ — David Lodge, Thinks...