 1 definition found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Butterfly \But"ter*fly'\, noun; 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}.]
{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.
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