musca (noun F) : Sanscr. makshikà, a fly; Gr. μυῖα, of which musca, μυἱσκα, may be a dim. form; cf. Germ. Mücke; Engl. midge, musquito
* 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.

s. TLL