Late 19th century; earliest use found in The Century Dictionary. From scientific Latin Pieridinae, former subfamily name from Pieris, genus name + -id- + -inae.
Definition of pieridine in US English:
pieridine
adjective
Entomology rare
= pierine.
Origin
Late 19th century; earliest use found in The Century Dictionary. From scientific Latin Pieridinae, former subfamily name from Pieris, genus name + -id- + -inae.