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.
Hear it pronounced