Papilio
/pəˈpɪli.oʊ/noun
A genus of butterflies, including many swallowtail species.
Did you know?In Latin, papilio could mean both “butterfly” and “tent,” likely because a fluttering butterfly’s wings were compared with a tent’s spread fabric.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
papiliō
“Butterfly; also a tent or pavilion, probably through a resemblance between wings and spread fabric”
Late Latin
Latin
papiliō
“A butterfly and a tent-like structure”
Old French
Old French
paveillon
“Tent or pavilion; the form that developed into the architectural sense”
Middle English
English
paviloun
“A large tent or temporary shelter”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
Papilio
“A formal butterfly genus name, especially associated with swallowtail butterflies”
Modern English
English
Papilio
“A taxonomic genus of butterflies”
Explore more surprising origins