Devil Horse
In Southern and Appalachian speech, a devil horse (or "devil’s horse") is a folk name for either a praying mantis or, in some areas, a large black horsefly - tied to old beliefs about danger or evil insects.
#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Animals #Nature #OldTimers #Southern #Euphemisms
synonyms: praying mantis (folk name), giant horsefly (folk name), devil’s darning needle (related insect folk name)
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Gimme a choice between a 'devil horse' or a 'deviled egg,' I'm choosin' the horse one any day of the week. Hillbilly Dude Says...
Gimme a choice between a 'devil horse' or a 'deviled egg,' I'm choosin' the horse one any day of the week. Pronunciation
[DEV-uhl HORSE] /ˈdɛvəl hɔːrs/
Meaning & Usage
- A praying mantis (folk name)
Mama:
Watch that devil horse - they say it can spit tobacco juice.
Watch that devil horse - they say it can spit tobacco juice.
Child:
Really?
Really?- A large black horsefly (folk name)
Joe:
Those devil horses are biting the mules again.
Those devil horses are biting the mules again.
Earl:
Biggest horseflies I’ve ever seen.
Biggest horseflies I’ve ever seen.variations: devil horse, devil’s horse, devil horses
★ "Devil horse" is another Southern insect myth name, like "snake doctor" and "devil’s darning needle." It blends superstition with everyday encounters on porches, barns, and pastures. ★
Origin and Etymology
Documented in Southern and Appalachian folklore since the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The praying mantis was often called a "devil horse" because of its odd stance and piercing forelegs. In coastal and swampy regions, "devil horse" also referred to the giant black horsefly (Tabanus atratus) because of its painful bite.
Usage Notes
- Devil horse - primary folk name for a praying mantis in the South/Appalachia.
- Secondary usage for the large black horsefly, especially in coastal or lowland areas.
- Common myths: it can spit tobacco juice in your eye; it can kill a horse; it’s poisonous - none are true.
- Related folk names include snake doctor, snake feeder, and devil’s darning needle.
- Still recognized among older speakers but increasingly replaced by "praying mantis" or "horsefly" in everyday speech.