BUTTERFLY

butterfly. Butterfly, n. a genus of insects of a variety of species with four wings, a spiral tongue and hairy body, a gay fellow

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But″ter‐fly′ (�), n.; pl. Butterflies (�). [[Perh. from the color of a yellow species. AS. buter-flēge, buttor-fleóge; cf. G. butterfliege, D. botervlieg. See Butter, and Fly.]] (Zoöl.) A general name for the numerous species of diurnal Lepidoptera. [See Illust. under Aphrodite.] Asclepias butterfly. See under Asclepias. — Butterfly fish (Zoöl.), the ocellated blenny (Blennius ocellaris) of Europe. See Blenny. The term is also applied to the flying gurnard. — Butterfly shell (Zoöl.), 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.