What does fritillary mean?
Fritillary most often names one of the patterned brush-footed butterflies, especially species with checkered or otherwise intricate wings. It is also a common name for plants in the genus Fritillaria, whose nodding, bell-shaped flowers are often delicately mottled. The two senses therefore evoke visual similarities: a butterfly's marked wings and a flower resembling a small pendant bell. In ordinary use, the butterfly sense is dominant, while botanical contexts may specify snake's-head or another named species. As a countable noun, fritillary takes the plural fritillaries. The word carries a refined, old-world character that suits its use in nature writing and descriptive prose. Gardeners usually apply it to members of the genus Fritillaria, including familiar snake's-head fritillaries, while butterfly watchers use it broadly for varied fritillary species and often mention a species' coloration or region. A fritillary is valued less for what it does than for the intricate patterns and forms for which it has become known.
nounA fritillary is a butterfly of the fritillary group, especially members of the genus Fritillaria, typically having patterned or checkered wings. The name also applies to any of various bulbous plants in the genus Fritillaria, which have nodding, often bell-shaped flowers.
- A butterfly of the fritillary group, especially members of the genus Fritillaria, commonly marked by checkered or intricately patterned wings.
- Any of various bulbous flowering plants in the genus Fritillaria, typically with nodding, bell-shaped and sometimes mottled flowers.
"A fritillary displayed its intricately patterned wings on the thistle."
"A fritillary displayed its intricately patterned wings on the thistle."
"Snake's-head fritillaries bloom in the woodland garden each spring."
The standard plural is fritillaries, with the ending pronounced like “-ries.”
"Several fritillaries visited the wildflowers in the meadow."
One word can name a checkered butterfly and a bell-shaped flower: two very different nature scenes in a single name.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does fritillary come from?
The English name was borrowed through the New Latin genus name Fritillaria, which derives from Latin fritilla, meaning “small dish.” Fritilla is associated with Latin fritillus, “dice box,” a further reminder of the checkered appearance associated with some fritillaries. The name was historically applied both to patterned butterflies and to the bell-flowered plants now classified in the genus Fritillaria.
Related word forms
How fritillary is actually used
The butterfly sense is dominant in general use, while the botanical sense is common in gardening and horticultural writing. The word is normally used as a countable noun.
Easily confused with fritillary
Fritillaria is the formal botanical genus name for the plants, whereas fritillary is an English common noun that can refer either to those plants or to certain butterflies.