tortoiseshell butterfly
- noun
- /ˈtɔrtəˌʃɛl ˈbʌtərflaɪ/
- UK
:
mariposa tortuga
- We spotted a beautiful tortoiseshell butterfly resting on the nettle plants near the pond.
Examples
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As spring arrived, the tortoiseshell butterfly emerged, showcasing its vibrant colors.
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The tortoiseshell butterfly fluttered gracefully among the flowers in the garden.
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Before the tortoiseshell butterfly was carved in the black oak, Benny Helmer and Severin Hansen had drunk many cases of beer in the workshop.
Fiction book (1995)
Synonyms
160
1.0
A small insect with a thin body and bright wings that flies in daylight
A brightly colored butterfly with orange and black wings that feeds on nettles
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase denotes a butterfly that has tortoiseshell-like (variegated) markings, which is directly compositional from 'tortoiseshell' (describing a pattern/color) + 'butterfly' (the insect). This noun–noun/adjunct pattern is a common, cross-linguistically transparent way to form animal names, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Tortoiseshell butterfly is named because its wings look like tortoiseshell: brown, orange, and black patches that remind people of a tortoise's 'shell'. So, the name helps you picture a butterfly with that spotted, shell-like pattern.