Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Vanessa \Van*es"sa\, n. [Probably from Swift's poem of Cadenus
   and Vanessa. See {Vanessa}, in the Dictionary of Noted Names
   in Fiction.] (Zo["o]l.)
   Any one of numerous species of handsomely colored butterflies
   belonging to {Vanessa} and allied genera. Many of these
   species have the edges of the wings irregularly scalloped.

Source : WordNet®

Vanessa
     n : painted beauty and red admiral [syn: {genus Vanessa}]