'Butterfly shell' definitions:

Definition of 'Butterfly shell'

From: 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]

Words containing 'Butterfly shell'