fritillary

American  

[frit-l-er-ee] / ˈfrɪt lˌɛr i /

noun

plural

fritillaries

1. any of several orange-brown nymphalid butterflies, usually marked with black lines and dots and with silvery spots on the undersides of the wings.

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fritillary British  

/ frɪˈtɪlərɪ /

noun

1. any N temperate liliaceous plant of the genus Fritillaria , having purple or white drooping bell-shaped flowers, typically marked in a chequered pattern See also snake's head

2. any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genera Argynnis, Boloria , etc, having brownish wings chequered with black and silver

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Etymology

Origin of fritillary

From New Latin, dating back to 1625–35; fritillaria

Example Sentences

The "first of its kind in the UK" report identified the country's rarest species, including the high brown fritillary butterfly and Snowden leaf beetle, based on how geographically restricted they are, said Natural Resources Wales.

From BBC • Nov. 24, 2025

According to Bourn, this species only endured here because volunteers picked up its caterpillars before meadows were mowed, and returned them after, and there was no prospect of the marsh fritillary spreading across the countryside.

From The Guardian • Oct. 13, 2020

According to ButterflyConservation.org, the small pearl-bordered fritillary "remains widespread and locally abundant in Scotland and Wales but has undergone a severe decline in England."

From Fox News • Jun. 30, 2020

Some caterpillars such as the Gulf fritillary should be encouraged.

From Seattle Times • May 27, 2020

The day didn’t begin to look up until I caught a spotted fritillary butterfly.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly