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fritillary
Aug. 28th, 2009 08:14 amfritillary - n., any of several nymphalid butterflies (Boloria, Speyeria, and related genera of the family Nymphalidae) with orange wings with black spots upper and silver spots under the hind wing.
I just love the sound of the word: FRIT-l-ehr-ee. FRIT-l-ehr-ee. They are also very pretty, and so deserving of the name. Called such from the name of the original genus, Fritillāria -- they have since been split up -- from New Latin, from Latin fritillus, dice-box. It's the spots, you see. There's also a genus of spotted lilies called Fritillaria, but they are only sometimes called fritillaries as well.
And in conclusion: fritillary!
---L.
I just love the sound of the word: FRIT-l-ehr-ee. FRIT-l-ehr-ee. They are also very pretty, and so deserving of the name. Called such from the name of the original genus, Fritillāria -- they have since been split up -- from New Latin, from Latin fritillus, dice-box. It's the spots, you see. There's also a genus of spotted lilies called Fritillaria, but they are only sometimes called fritillaries as well.
And in conclusion: fritillary!
---L.
