οἶστρος

English (LSJ)

ὁ,

   A gadfly, breese, prob. Tabanus bovinus, an insect which infests cattle, τὰς μέν τ' αἰόλος οἶ. ἐφορμηθεὶς ἐδόνησεν, ὥρῃ ἐν εἰαρινῇ Od.22.300 ; of the fly that tormented Io, A.Supp.541(lyr.), Pr.567 sq. (lyr.) (also called μύωψ, ib.675, Supp.308 : but the two are distd. by Arist.HA490a20,596b14).    2 an insect that infests tunny-fish, prob. Brachiella thynni, ib.557a27,602a28.    3 a small insectivorous bird, perh. Sylvia trochilus, ib.592b22.    II metaph., a sting, anything that drives mad, κεραυνοῦ οἶ. E.HF862 ; οἴστροις Ἐρινύων Id.IT1456 : abs., the smart of pain, agony, S.Tr.1254.    2 any vehement desire, insane passion, Hdt.2.93, E.Hipp.1300, Pl.R.577e, etc.; ὄρεξις μετὰ οἴστρου καὶ ἀδημονίας Epicur.Fr.483 : c. gen. objecti, κτεάνων for wealth, AP11.389 (Lucill.): generally, madness. frenzy, S.Ant.1002, E.Or.791 : pl., Id.Ba.665 ; μανιάδες οἶ. Id.IA548(lyr.).    3 in good sense, zeal, οἶ. εἰς πᾶν ἀγαθὸν ἔργον PMasp.3.13(vi A. D.).    III a throw at dice, Eub.57.5.