FRITILLARY Meaning and
Definition
-
Fritillary, noun
- 1. A small to medium-sized butterfly belonging to the genus Fritillary (family Nymphalidae). Known for their colorful wings marked with intricate patterns, fritillaries are often found in grasslands, meadows, and open woodlands across various regions of the world. They are typically characterized by their slow, fluttery flight and their preference for nectar-producing flowers. Fritillaries are admired by butterfly enthusiasts for their beauty and ecological importance as pollinators.
- 2. Any plant of the genus Fritillaria, which consists of various perennial flowering plants found in temperate regions. Fritillaries are known for their showy, bell-shaped flowers that usually bloom in spring or early summer. They are commonly cultivated in gardens for their ornamental value and can be found in a wide range of colors, including purples, yellows, whites, and pinks. Fritillaries are valued for their distinctive appearance and ability to add charm and visual interest to flowerbeds and borders.
- 3. A pattern or design featuring checkered or mottled markings resembling the wing patterns of fritillary butterflies or the checkered petals of certain fritillary flowers. This term is often used in the context of art, fashion, and fabric design to describe intricate, tessellated patterns resembling the natural beauty found in fritillaries. Fritillary patterns can be found in various visual media and are celebrated for their aesthetic appeal and resemblance to the delicate symmetry observed in nature.
Common Misspellings for FRITILLARY
- dritillary
- critillary
- vritillary
- gritillary
- tritillary
- rritillary
- feitillary
- fditillary
- ffitillary
- ftitillary
- f5itillary
- f4itillary
- frutillary
- frjtillary
- frktillary
- frotillary
- fr9tillary
- fr8tillary
- fririllary
Etymology of FRITILLARY
The word "fritillary" has a rather interesting etymology. It is derived from the Latin word "fritillus", meaning "dice box" or "dice cup". The Latin word was itself derived from "frîtor", which means "to fry" or "to cook".
The connection between these seemingly unrelated meanings lies in the pattern found on the wings of certain fritillary butterflies, which resemble the checkered pattern often found on dice. This resemblance led to the butterflies being named "fritillary", referring to a dice box or dice cup.
Over time, the term "fritillary" expanded to encompass a group of butterflies characterized by their specific wing patterns. These butterflies typically have orange or brown wings with intricate markings. Today, "fritillary" is used to refer to various species within the butterfly family Nymphalidae, particularly those of the subfamily Heliconiinae.
Similar spelling words for FRITILLARY
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
