What is "stable fly"

Stable \Sta"ble\, n. [OF. estable, F. ['e]table, from L. stabulum, fr. stare to stand. See Stand, v. i.] A house, shed, or building, for beasts to lodge and feed in; esp., a building or apartment with stalls, for horses; as, a horse stable; a cow stable.
--Milton.

Stable fly (Zo["o]l.), a common dipterous fly ( Stomoxys calcitrans) which is abundant about stables and often enters dwellings, especially in autumn; called also biting house fly. These flies, unlike the common house flies, which they resemble, bite severely, and are troublesome to horses and cattle. They differ from the larger horse fly.

n. 1 Any of several medium-sized flies in the genus (taxlink Stomoxys genus noshow=1), of the family Muscidae that includes the housefly. The genus is unusual among members of that family, in that they suck blood from mammals. 2 # (taxlink Stomoxys calcitrans species noshow=1).

Stomoxys calcitrans is commonly called the stable fly, barn fly, biting house fly, dog fly, or power mower fly. Unlike most members of the family Muscidae, Stomoxys calcitrans ('sharp mouth' + 'kicking') and others of its genus suck blood from mammals. Now found worldwide, the species is considered to be of Eurasian origin.