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Mos*qui"to (m&obreve;s*kē*t&osl;),
n.; pl. Mosquitoes (#).
[Sp. mosquito, fr. moscafly, L. musca. Cf.
Musket.] (Zoöl.) Any one of various species
of gnats of the genus Culex and allied genera. The females
have a proboscis containing, within the sheathlike labium, six fine,
sharp, needlelike organs with which they puncture the skin of man and
animals to suck the blood. These bites, when numerous, cause, in many
persons, considerable irritation and swelling, with some pain. The
larvæ and pupæ, called wigglers, are
aquatic. [Written also musquito.]

Mosquito bar, Mosquito net,
a net or curtain for excluding mosquitoes, -- used for beds and
windows. -- Mosquito fleet, a fleet of
small vessels. -- Mosquito hawk
(Zoöl.), a dragon fly; -- so called because it
captures and feeds upon mosquitoes. -- Mosquito
netting, a loosely-woven gauzelike fabric for making
mosquito bars.

Moss (?), n. [OE.


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