
adj.
Having a bilaterally symmetrical corolla somewhat resembling a butterfly, characteristic of most plants of the pea family.
[Latin pāpiliō, pāpiliōn-, butterfly; see pavilion + -ACEOUS.]
| Dictionary: pa·pil·i·o·na·ceous |
| Wordsmith Words: papilionaceous |
(puh-pil-ee-uh-NAY-shuhs)
adjective
1. Of or pertaining to a butterfly.
2. Belonging to the Papilionaceae family whose plants have petals in the form of a butterfly, mostly legumes, such as peas and beans.
Etymology
From Latin papilion-, stem of papilio (butterfly)
When you're sitting in a pavilion, you're under the wings of a butterfly, etymologically speaking. Also, there is a breed of spaniels named papillon having large ears resembling the wings of a butterfly: www.akc.org/breeds/recbreeds/papp.cfm. Pea flower: www.xmission.com/~nelsonb/pea.htm.
| Obscure Words: papilionaceous |
| banner (botany) | |
| vexillar | |
| bird's-foot |
Copyrights:
![]() | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more | |
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![]() | Obscure Words. © 2008 by Michael A. Fischer http://home.comcast.net/~wwftd. Read more |