Papilionaceous
/pəˌpɪliəˈneɪʃəs/noun
Having a corolla shaped somewhat like a butterfly, especially describing flowers of the pea family.
Did you know?The Latin papilio meant both “butterfly” and “tent” or “pavilion,” likely because both could appear fluttering or wing-like, though the precise connection is uncertain.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
papiliō
“Butterfly; also a tent or pavilion in another Latin use”
Late Latin
Latin
papilionāceus
“Butterfly-like or resembling a butterfly”
18th Century
Botanical Latin
papilionaceus
“Having a butterfly-shaped flower, especially a pea-family corolla”
18th–19th Century
English
papilionaceous
“Resembling a butterfly in floral form”
Modern English
English
papilionaceous
“Describing a butterfly-shaped flower, particularly one belonging to the pea family”