Camberwell beauty

American  

noun

1. mourning cloak.

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Camberwell beauty British  

/ -wəl, ˈkæmbəˌwɛl /

noun

1. US name: mourning cloak.  a nymphalid butterfly, Nymphalis antiopa, of temperate regions, having dark purple wings with cream-yellow borders

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Etymology

Origin of Camberwell beauty

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Vanessa, va-nes′a, n. a genus of butterflies, e.g. the Vanessa atalanta or Red Admiral, Vanessa antiope or Camberwell Beauty.

From Project Gutenberg

Camberwell beauty, kam′ber-wel bū′ti, n.

From Project Gutenberg

In England it has the more suggestive title of Camberwell Beauty, and country boys are said to call it the Yellow Edge butterfly.

From Project Gutenberg

In many books this species is spoken of by its English name Camberwell Beauty.

From Project Gutenberg

Butterflies and several other things are often attracted by sugared trees, whether old or fresh; and Dr. Knaggs says that by day several butterflies, chiefly Vanessidae, a group comprising the "Peacock," the "Tortoiseshell," the "Red Admiral," the "Painted Lady," and the "Camberwell Beauty," have a penchant for the sugar, and may, by this means, be enticed within our reach; and the "Purple Emperor" has thus been frequently entrapped.

From Project Gutenberg