Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CAN'THA-RIS, n. [or plur. CAN-THAR'I-DES, Gr. κανθαρις.]

Spanish flies. This fly is nine or ten lines in length, of a shining green color, mixed with azure, and has a nauseous smell. It feeds upon the leaves of trees and shrubs, preferring the ash. These flies, when bruised, are universally used as a vesicatory, or blistering plaster. The largest come from Italy, but the best from Spain.