any butterfly of the family Nymphalidae, typically having brightly coloured wings: includes the fritillaries, tortoiseshells, red admirals, and peacock
adjective
2.
of, relating to, or belonging to the Nymphalidae
Word origin
C19: from New Latin, from Nymphālis genus name, from Latin; see nymph
nymphalid in American English
(ˈnɪmfəlɪd)
noun
any of a family (Nymphalidae) of brightly colored butterflies with very short forelegs including the monarch and viceroy