fritillary
pronunciation
How to pronounce fritillary in British English:
UK [frɪˈtɪləri]
How to pronounce fritillary in American English:
US [ˈfrɪtleri]
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- Noun:
- any liliaceous plant of the genus Fritillaria having nodding variously colored flowers
- butterfly with brownish wings marked with black and silver
Word Origin
- fritillary (n.)
- popular name of a type of British butterfly, 1857, earlier a type of plant (Fritillaria Meleagris, 1633), from Latin fritillus "dice-box," from fritinnire said to be imitative of the rattle of dice. The plant so called in allusion to the shape of its perianth. The butterfly so called perhaps from resemblance of its markings to those of dice or a chessboard (perhaps on the confused notion that fritillus meant "chessboard").
Example
- 1. So should new england 's loss of the regal fritillary .
- 2. Heath fritillary butterflies which are rare in the uk , have returned in large numbers to blean woods , near canterbury in kent .