Camberwell beauty

noun

1. mourning cloak.

Camberwell beauty

/ -wəl, ˈkæmbəˌwɛl /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of Camberwell beauty¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Word History and Origins

Origin of Camberwell beauty¹

C19: named after Camberwell, a district of S London

Example Sentences

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

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

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

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

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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.

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