flywire

See also: fly-wire

English

Etymology

From fly +‎ wire.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈflʌɪwʌɪə/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

flywire (usually uncountable, plural flywires)

1. (chiefly Australia) A type of screening used to exclude flies and other insects.
   • 1938, Xavier Herbert, chapter VIII, in Capricornia‎, page 126:

     He noticed for the first time that the fellow was naked. He had taken little notice of him in the darkened room, and afterwards had seen him only through the fly-wire door.

   • 1985, Peter Carey, Illywhacker, Faber and Faber, published 2003, page 367:

     For a moment, she feared he would, like a new puppy, burst through the flywire.

   • 2002, Alex Miller, Journey to the Stone Country, Allen & Unwin, published 2003, page 64:

     He stood in the deep shadow of the open doorway, holding the flywire back with one hand and watching them get out and stretch their limbs in the sun.

Alternative forms

• fly-wire