Butterflies

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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}.] (Zool.)
     A general name for the numerous species of diurnal
     Lepidoptera.


  
     Note: [See Illust. under {Aphrodite}.]
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {Asclepias butterfly}. See under {Asclepias}.
  
     {Butterfly fish} (Zool.), the ocellated blenny ({Blennius
        ocellaris}) of Europe. See {Blenny}. The term is also
        applied to the flying gurnard.
  
     {Butterfly shell} (Zool.), 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]