mourning cloak

American  

noun

1. an anglewing butterfly, Nymphalis antiopa, widely distributed in Europe and North America, having velvety, dark-brown wings with purple spots and pale-yellow edges.

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mourning cloak British  

noun

1. the US name for Camberwell beauty

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Etymology

Origin of mourning cloak

First recorded in 1600–10

Example Sentences

Adult mourning cloak, question mark and comma butterflies may overwinter next year in these piles.

From Washington Post • Mar. 8, 2023

One of the butterflies you can plan to spot nearly year-round is the mourning cloak — they are one of the seven butterflies that overwinter in the Sinlahekin.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 27, 2021

Some butterflies, like the mourning cloak, are freshly emerged from the narrow crevices where they spent the winter, and may find little else in bloom for weeks.

From New York Times • Apr. 4, 2018

The mourning cloak butterfly, found throughout the Dishman Hills, has antifreeze in its system to allow adults to get an early start in the year.

From Washington Times • Jul. 24, 2016

To Miko and Moa it was the somber, taciturn George Prince, shrouded always in his black mourning cloak, disinclined to talk; sitting alone, brooding and cowardly sullen.

From Astounding Stories of Super-Science April 1930 by Bates, Harry