Description:

The term 'pappil' on its base is a general word for butterflies, with a secondary metaphorical meaning of a fluttering motion. 

There was no generally accepted Common word for butterfly prior to the modern period, and people used different loanwords. In the early modern period, the AXS sought to correct this. A common name was coined based on the phylogenetic family name of papilionoidea, ultimately from Latin. As with most AXS coinings, respect for the source was loose. The exact firm 'pappil' reflects a general AXZ tendency to get rid of 'useless' endings, and probably ultimately someone's aesthetic choice as to why 'pappil' and not 'papil'. Perhaps they thought it sounded more 'fluttery'.

The secondary sense of fluttering, either as a literal flying motion or as a metaphor for a sort of aimless progression arose organically later and supplanted the original verbal interpretation of something like 'be a butterfly'.

Noun: 

In a noun context, pappil is just a general word for butterflies, as the common name. It can also refer to a general sort of fluttering about.

Verb:

The dominant verbal meaning of pappil is as asemitransitive noxaj verb of motion meaning to flutter, with an absolutive mover and a dative destination. It is frequently used in a disintentive pali form meaning 'to flutter about'.

Modifier: 

The modifier form 'pappilys' has a literal meaning of 'fluttery', and a metaphysical Sensei of lacking clear aim and intention.