Meaning of painted lady | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Any of certain cryptic patterned butterflies of genus Vanessa (family Nymphalidae), especially Vanessa cardui.
2. A painted trillium (Trillium undulatum), a forest wildflower of North America.
3. A flower of the pea family (Gompholobium scabrum), native to southwestern Australia.
4. A prostitute (in reference to their use of makeup).
   dated, historical, slang
5. A Victorian house repainted with vibrant colors to accentuate the architectural design, especially in San Francisco, California.
   US
6. A sea snail (Phasianella australis).

Equivalents

Examples

“In Cheyenne in 1883, a Dr. W.A. Wyan tried in vain to save painted lady Sallie Talbot.”

“An archetypal American streetscape is lined with Aesthetic movement houses: Stick Style cottages with muscular roof trusses and exposed timbering; many-colored painted ladies with gingerbread porches; […]”

CEFR level