The Collaborative International Dictionary
Asclepias \As*cle"pi*as\, n. [L., fr. Gr. ?, named from Asclepios or Aesculapius.] (Bot.) A genus of plants including the milkweed, swallowwort, and some other species having medicinal properties.
Asclepias butterfly (Zo["o]l.), a large, handsome, red and black butterfly ( Danais Archippus), found in both hemispheres. It feeds on plants of the genus Asclepias.
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.] (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.