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Definition of tsetse

tsetse

/ˈtset.si/
tset · se
Plural:tsetses
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tsetse Lexical Profile

tsetse Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A bloodsucking African fly of the genus Glossina that primarily inhabits Sub-Saharan woodlands and savannas, notorious for transmitting the parasitic trypanosomes that cause sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in cattle.

Example

"Public health initiatives in the region have heavily focused on deploying traps to control the population of the tsetse."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for tsetse

Word Nuance & Usage

Often used tautologically in the compound noun 'tsetse fly', despite the word 'tsetse' alone literally translating to 'fly' in its language of origin.

• Nearby Words

tsarist
tsavo
tschudi false coral snake
tsetse
tshuapa
tsk
tsuga

Word Origin & Etymology

Mid 19th century: borrowed directly from Tswana 'tsêtsê', meaning 'fly'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tsetse. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tsetse
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