any N temperate liliaceous plant of the genus Fritillaria, having purple or white drooping bell-shaped flowers, typically marked in a chequered pattern
See also snake's head
2.
any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genera Argynnis, Boloria, etc, having brownish wings chequered with black and silver
Word origin
C17: from New Latin fritillāria, from Latin fritillus dice box; probably with reference to the spotted markings
fritillary in American English
(ˈfrɪtəlˌɛri; British frɪˈtɪlərɪ)
nounWord forms: pluralˈfritilˌlaries
1.
any of a genus (Fritillaria) of perennial, bulbous plants of the lily family, with nodding, bell-shaped flowers
: also ˌfritilˈlaria (ˌfrɪtəlˈɛriə)
2.
any of certain medium-sized nymphalid butterflies, usually having brownish wings with silver spots on the undersides
Word origin
< ModL Fritillaria < L fritillus, dice box: from markings on the petals or wings
Examples of 'fritillary' in a sentence
fritillary
He had eaten the young of the fritillary a thousand times during his boyhood; they tasted delicious, juicy and sweet, just as they should.
Zindell, David THE BROKEN GOD
day before dinner, he forgot his promise to himself in the hot pool and ate the larvae of a fritillary butterfly.
Zindell, David THE BROKEN GOD
It was obvious he was dreaming: his eyelids fluttered like the wings of a fritillary, and he moved his cracked, bleeding lips silently.