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Glite Dictionary
mourning cloak

mourning cloak

9.9
A large dark butterfly with pale yellow edges on its wings
  • noun
  • /ˈmɔrnɪŋ kloʊk/
  • US
translation icon : manto de luto
  • The mourning cloak butterfly is known for its stunning dark purple wings with yellow borders.

Examples

  • The mourning cloak is one of the first butterflies to emerge from hibernation in my area.

  • Other invertebrates, including moths and butterflies such as mourning cloaks and blues, were everywhere.

    Academic text (1995)

  • The mourning cloak…

    The Pawnbroker (1965)

  • In early spring, I often see a mourning cloak fluttering around my garden.

Synonyms

mourning cloak butterfly
vsmourning cloak
  • US
8.6

A large dark purple butterfly with yellow edges on its wings

uses the species' formal Latin name instead of that common phrase
Nymphalis antiopa
vsmourning cloak
  • Specialized
9.9

A large dark purple butterfly with yellow edges on its wings

uses the common descriptive English name focusing on appearance

Surface Forms

mourning cloak singular
mourning cloaks plural

Morphology

mourning + cloak

Although the compound literally combines 'mourning' and 'cloak' (suggesting a dark garment), the actual meaning refers to a specific butterfly species and not a piece of clothing. The referent (a butterfly named for its cloak‑like wing pattern) is a metaphorical, taxonomic label that a B1 learner knowing the constituents would not reliably infer without extra world knowledge, so the expression is not transparently compositional.

Etymology

Mourning cloak may come from the butterfly's dark, velvety wings that look like a black cloak people once wore in mourning. So the name points to the insect's cloak-like appearance today.