papillon

le papillon (FR N-M) butterfly, an insect (Lepidoptera) whose adults have wings, often beautifully colored and patterned. Male butterflies fly from flower to flower gathering scents in pockets on their legs in an attempt to create the most attractive mixture to procure a mate. First appears in French in 1275, from Latin papilio. (Hugo, Leconte de Lisle, Mendès, Silvestre)