In the Brothers Grimm tale “The Brave Little Tailor,” the tailor kills seven flies with one blow.
The tailor is annoyed by flies around his food and strikes them, killing seven at once. Proud of the feat, he makes a belt bearing the message “Seven at one blow.” When people read it, they assume he has defeated seven human enemies rather than seven insects. The misunderstanding launches him into a series of dangerous adventures.
The tailor uses his apparent reputation to confront giants, capture a unicorn, and deal with a wild boar. His victories depend on agility, deception, and quick thinking rather than physical strength. The number seven therefore begins as a literal count of flies but becomes the foundation of his heroic identity.
The tale was published by the Brothers Grimm as KHM 20. Its title is sometimes translated as “The Valiant Little Tailor,” but the opening feat and its famous number remain the same.