painted lady

[ peyn-tid ley-dee ]

noun
  1. a butterfly, Vanessa cardui, one of the most widespread butterflies in the world, having brownish-black and orange wings with four eyespots on each hindwing.: Compare American painted lady.

  2. Often Painted Lady . a Victorian or Edwardian house painted in at least three colors to enhance the intricate exterior detailing: Our painted lady is an 1868 Victorian with peach clapboards, periwinkle doors, and ornate features in white and pearl gray.

Origin of painted lady

1
First recorded in 1690–1700 for 1, 1975–80 for 2

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use painted lady in a sentence

  • Brebeuf, who wrote one hundred and fifty epigrams against a painted lady.

  • The painted lady's lips were poisoned, so that a kiss was fatal.

    The Art of Public Speaking | Dale Carnagey (AKA Dale Carnegie) and J. Berg Esenwein
  • A painted lady best fits a Captain; for so both may fight under their colours.

  • The painted lady had never got any letters while she was in Thrums, but she looked wistfully at those of other people.

    Tommy and Grizel | J.M. Barrie
  • Do you remember the long, lonely path between two ragged little dykes that led from the Den to the house of the painted lady?

    Tommy and Grizel | J.M. Barrie

British Dictionary definitions for painted lady

painted lady

noun
  1. a migratory nymphalid butterfly, Vanessa cardui, with pale brownish-red mottled wings

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012