Flyblew

/ˈflaɪbluː/ verb

Definition

Past tense of 'flyblow'; to lay eggs in something, especially meat, causing it to decay.

Etymology

From 'fly' + 'blew', past tense of 'blow'. Medieval term from when people observed flies depositing eggs on rotting meat.

Kelly Says

Medieval cooks discovered that flies 'flyblew' meat—literally blew eggs into it—which solved the mystery of why meat suddenly spawned maggots, a discovery that fascinated and horrified them.

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