A butterfly is an insect with large, often brightly colored wings that goes through stages of egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and adult. It is active during the day and is known for its delicate, fluttering flight.
From Old English 'buttorfleoge,' literally 'butter-fly.' The exact reason for the name is debated; some think it refers to the yellow color of some butterflies, others to old folk tales about witches in the shape of insects stealing butter. The form ‘butterfly’ has been stable in English for many centuries.
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