mariposa lily
[ mar-uh-poh-suh, -zuh ]
/ ˌmær əˈpoʊ sə, -zə /
noun
any lily of the genus Calochortus, of the western U.S. and Mexico, having tuliplike flowers of various colors.
Also called
mar·i·po·sa,
mariposa tulip.
Origin of mariposa lily
1880–85,
Americanism; < Spanish
mariposa butterfly, moth; so named because blooms were likened to butterflies
Words nearby mariposa lily
marion,
marion, francis,
marionette,
mariotte's law,
mariposa,
mariposa lily,
maris,
marisat,
marish,
marisol,
marist
Example sentences from the Web for mariposa
British Dictionary definitions for mariposa
mariposa
/ (ˌmærɪˈpəʊzə, -sə) /
noun
any of several liliaceous plants of the genus Calochortus, of the southwestern US and Mexico, having brightly coloured tulip-like flowers
Also called: mariposa lily, mariposa tulip
Word Origin for mariposa
C19: from Spanish: butterfly; from the likeness of the blooms to butterflies