The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Asclepias \As*cle"pi*as\, n. [L., fr. Gr. ?, named from
Asclepios or Aesculapius.] (Bot.)
A genus of plants including the milkweed, swallowwort, and
some other species having medicinal properties.
[1913 Webster]
Asclepias butterfly (Zool.), a large, handsome, red and
black butterfly (Danais Archippus), found in both
hemispheres. It feeds on plants of the genus Asclepias.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Butterfly \But"ter*fly`\, n.; pl. Butterflies. [Perh. from the
color of a yellow species. AS. buter-fl[=e]ge,
buttor-fle['o]ge; cf. G. butterfliege, D. botervlieg. See
Butter, and Fly.] (Zool.)
A general name for the numerous species of diurnal
Lepidoptera.
Note: [See Illust. under Aphrodite.]
[1913 Webster]
Asclepias butterfly. See under Asclepias.
Butterfly fish (Zool.), the ocellated blenny (Blennius
ocellaris) of Europe. See Blenny. The term is also
applied to the flying gurnard.
Butterfly shell (Zool.), a shell of the genus Voluta.
Butterfly valve (Mech.), a kind of double clack valve,
consisting of two semicircular clappers or wings hinged to
a cross rib in the pump bucket. When open it somewhat
resembles a butterfly in shape.
[1913 Webster]