- Butterflies
- Butterfly But"ter*fly`, n.; pl. {Butterflies}. [Perh. from the
color of a yellow species. AS. buter-fl[=e]ge,
buttor-fle['o]ge; cf. G. butterfliege, D. botervlieg. See
{Butter}, and {Fly}.] (Zo["o]l.)
A general name for the numerous species of diurnal
Lepidoptera.
Note: [See Illust. under {Aphrodite}.] [1913 Webster]
{Asclepias butterfly}. See under {Asclepias}.
{Butterfly fish} (Zo["o]l.), the ocellated blenny ({Blennius ocellaris}) of Europe. See {Blenny}. The term is also applied to the flying gurnard.
{Butterfly shell} (Zo["o]l.), a shell of the genus {Voluta}.
{Butterfly valve} (Mech.), a kind of double clack valve, consisting of two semicircular clappers or wings hinged to a cross rib in the pump bucket. When open it somewhat resembles a butterfly in shape. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.