Lepidoptera or lepidopterans are an order of winged insects which include butterflies and moths.

Lepidoptera is a combination of two Greek words:
• Lepis (λεπίς): meaning "scale"
• Pteron (πτερόν): meaning "wing"

The literal meaning of Lepidoptera is "scaly wings."

The word "butterfly" is from Old English buttorfleoge, possibly from the pale butter color of some species' wings.
The word "moth" is from Old English moððe from Common Germanic and German Motte meaning "moth".
The word "caterpillar" is from Middle English catirpel, catirpeller, probably an alteration of Old North French catepelose (from Latin cattus, "cat" + pilosus, "hairy").