butterflies

but-ter-flies · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    Plural of "butterfly": flying insects with large, often brightly colored wings.

  2. 2.

    [informal]A nervous feeling in the stomach.

  3. 3.

    A swimming stroke in which both arms move together over the head.

Related words

See also: butterfly, caterpillar, insect, moth

Etymology

From Old English buttorfleoge, from buttor ("butter") + fleoge ("fly"). The name may refer to the butter-yellow color of common species or to a folk belief that butterflies stole butter.