Breeze | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Breeze or Breeze'-fly, n.

noun

n. [A-S. brīosa, brimse, O. H. Ger. brimisa, N. H. Ger. breme, bremse, D. brems. Cf. Ger. bransen, Icel. brāsa, Sw. brusa, Dan. bruse, to hum, buzz, murmur.] (Entom.) A kind of fly of various species, of the family Tabanidæ, noted for buzzing about animals, and tormenting them by sucking their blood. They are among the largest of the two-winged, or dipterous insects. The name breeze-fly is also given to different species of the family Œstridæ, or bot-flies. [Written also breeze and brize.]

Breeze, n.

noun

Breeze, n. [Fr. brise, It. brezza, breeze, Sp. briza, brisa, a breeze from north-east, Pg. briza, north-east wind. Cf. Fr. bise, Pr. bisa, O. H. Ger. bisa, north wind, Arm. biz, north-east wind.]

Sense 1. A light wind; a gentle gale.

Into a gradual calm the breezes sink. Wordsworth.

Sense 2. (Fig.) An excited state of feeling; a quarrel; a disturbance. [Colloq.]

Sense 3. (Brick-making.) Ashes and cinders used instead of coal in the burning of bricks.

Sea breeze, a breeze or wind blowing at stated times, generally in the daytime, from the sea.—Land breeze, a wind blowing regularly from the land, generally at night.

Breeze, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. To blow gently.

For now the breathing airs, from ocean born, Breeze up the bay, and lead the lively morn. Barlow.