Word Study
firefly
CIDE DICTIONARY
firefly, n.
Any luminous winged insect, esp. luminous beetles of the family Lampyridæ . [1913 Webster]
" The common American species belong to the genera Photinus (especially Photinus pyralis ) and Photuris , in which both sexes are winged. The name is also applied to luminous species of Elateridæ . See Fire beetle ." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
firefly, n. (pl. -flies) any soft-bodied beetle of the family Lampyridae, emitting phosphorescent light, including glow-worms.
THESAURUS
firefly
blink, blinking, candle fly, coruscation, fire beetle, fireworm, glimmer, glimmering, glisten, glister, glitter, glittering, glowworm, lampyrid, lantern fly, lightning bug, luciferase, luciferin, luminophor, phosphor, scintilla, scintillation, shimmer, shimmering, spangle, spark, sparkle, stroboscopic light, tinsel, twinkle, twinklingROGET THESAURUS
firefly
Luminary
N luminary, light, flame, spark, scintilla, phosphorescence, fluorescence, sun, orb of day, Phoebus, Apollo, Aurora, star, orb, meteor, falling star, shooting star, blazing star, dog star, Sirius, canicula, Aldebaran, constellation, galaxy, zodiacal light, anthelion, day star, morning star, Lucifer, mock sun, parhelion, phosphor, phosphorus, sun dog, Venus, aurora, polar lights, northern lights, aurora borealis, southern lights, aurora australis, lightning, chain lightning, fork lightning, sheet lightning, summer lightning, ball lightning, kugelblitz, phosphorus, yellow phosphorus, scintillator, phosphor, firefly luminescence, ignis fatuus, Jack o'lantern, Friar's lantern, will-o'-the- wisp, firedrake, Fata Morgana, Saint Elmo's fire, glowworm, firefly, June bug, lightning bug, anglerfish, gas, gas light, lime light, lantern, lanthorn, dark lantern, bull's-eye, candle, bougie, taper, rushlight, oil, wick, burner, Argand, moderator, duplex, torch, flambeau, link, brand, gaselier, chandelier, electrolier, candelabrum, candelabra, girandole, sconce, luster, candlestick, lamp, light, incandescent lamp, tungsten bulb, light bulb, flashlight, torch, arc light, laser, maser neon bulb, neon sign, fluorescent lamp, filament, socket, contacts, filler gas, firework, fizgig, pyrotechnics, rocket, lighthouse, self-luminous, glowing, phosphoric, phosphorescent, fluorescent, incandescent, luminescent, chemiluminescent, radiant, blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels, the sentinel stars set their watch in the sky, the planets in their station list'ning stood, the Scriptures of the skies, that orbed continent, the fire that severs day from night.For further exploring for "firefly" in Webster Dictionary Online