it neither likes butter nor is it a fly, so why the name?
2006-07-14 04:47:52 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
It is a Spoonerism on the original name, Flutterby
2006-07-14 04:50:58 · answer #1 · answered by LoneStar 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Old English "buttorfleoge", perhaps based on the old notion that the insects (or witches disguised as butterflies) consume butter or milk that is left uncovered. Or, less creatively, simply because the pale yellow color of many species' wings suggests the color of butter. Another theory connects it to the color of the insect's excrement, based on Dutch cognate "boterschijte".
2006-07-14 11:51:37 · answer #2 · answered by Pineapple Hat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Easy, it is called a butter-fly because it ate butter and could fly.
^_^
2006-07-14 13:25:14 · answer #3 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ever drive through a swarm of them at 75 mph ? It looks lke BUTTER is FLYING all over your windshield..
2006-07-14 14:18:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the person who came up with it was Spoonerizing it (mixing up the first sounds of the word). It should have been a flutterby.
2006-07-14 14:45:16 · answer #5 · answered by cross-stitch kelly 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It feels like butter and it flies!!!
2006-07-14 11:51:01 · answer #6 · answered by Susan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋