The butterfly Gonepteryx rhamni (species) of the Pieridae family.
Origin
From Middle English brymston, brimston, bremston, forms of brinston, brenston, bernston, from Old English brynstān ("brimstone"), equivalent to brian + stone, or burn + stone. Cognate with Scots brunstane ("brimstone"), Icelandic brennisteinn ("sulfur / sulphur, brimstone"), German Bernstein ("amber"). Compare also brimfire. More at burn, stone.
Once a synonym for "sulfur / sulphur", the word is now restricted to Biblical usage.
Modern English dictionary
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