Fritillary
/ˈfrɪt.ɪ.lɛr.i/noun
A plant of the lily family with nodding, often checkered flowers; also a butterfly in the genus Fritillary.
Did you know?The botanical name was linked by early writers to the Latin *fritillus*, a dice-box or cup for throwing dice, likely because some fritillary flowers have a checkered, game-board pattern.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
fritillus
“A dice-box or cup used for casting dice”
Late Latin
Latin
fritillaria
“A plant name applied to a checkered-flowered lily”
16th-17th Century
English
fritillarie / fritillary
“A checkered-flowered plant, especially the crown imperial”
Modern English
English
fritillary
“Any of several checkered or spotted plants of the genus Fritillaria, and the butterflies named after them”