E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Butterflies,
in the cab trade, are those drivers who take to the occupation only in summer-time, and at the best of the season. At other times they follow some other occupation.
1
“The feeling of the regular drivers against these ‘butterflies’ is very strong.”—Nineteenth Century (March, 1893, p. 177).
