The skipper's a character! (9)

I believe the answer is:

butterfly

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But I can't explain it at all! Could you help me understand?

(Other definitions for butterfly that I've seen before include "Insect; flighty person" , "Beautiful insect and swimming stroke" , "Swimming stroke - sort of net, kiss or screw" , "noted geisha?" , "Lepidopterous insect" .)

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