Lexical Definition

‎קֶרֶץ‎ qerets (keh'-rets) stinging fly ^H:N-M
from ‎קָרַץ‎

destruction.

• extirpation (as if by constriction)

1) nipping, nipper, stinger
1a) nipping or stinging insect, gadfly

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎קֶ֫רֶץ‎ noun masculine dubious word, apparently nipping, concrete nipper usually interpreted (since Hi) of a nipping or stinging insect (compare Aramaic ‎קָרוֺצָא‎, Arabic biting insect); e.g. gadfly (compare Thes^{Add. 111}), figurative of Nebuchadr. ‎מִצָּפוֺן בָּא‎ ‎׳‎‎ק‎ Jer 46:20 a gadfly cometh from the north; ᵑ9 (Aq Symm) stimulator, i.e. ‎קֹרֵץ‎; Thes and others, more generally, excidium.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References