hairstreak

[ hair-streek ]

noun

1. any small, dark butterfly of the family Lycaenidae, subfamily Theclinae, having hairlike tails on the hindwings.

hairstreak

/ ˈhɛəˌstriːk /

noun

1. any small butterfly of the genus Callophrys and related genera, having fringed wings marked with narrow white streaks: family Lycaenidae

Word History and Origins

Origin of hairstreak¹

First recorded in 1810–20; hair + streak