— gnatlike , adj.
/nat/ , n.
1. any of certain small flies, esp. the biting gnats or punkies of the family Ceratopogonidae, the midges of the family Chironomidae, and the black flies of the family Simuliidae.
2. Brit. mosquito.
3. strain at a gnat and swallow a camel , to fuss about trifles while ignoring more serious matters.
[ bef. 900; ME; OE gnaet ( t ); c. G (dial.) Gnatze ]