Why do they call a Butterfly a Butterfly?

Question

How did this insect get its name?????

Answer 1

Because "Margrinefly" is too hard to say.

Answer 2

The Old English word for butterfly was "buttorfleoge" apparently because butterflies were thought to steal milk. The Oxford English Dictionary notes some old Dutch words "botervlieg" and "boterschijte" originating of the same belief. This is believed to have led to the evolution of its present name form - butterfly.

An alternative folk etymology, prevalent in Great Britain, is that it originated as a contraction of butter-coloured fly referring to the "Brimstone Butterfly Gonepteryx rhamni", often the first butterfly of spring. Another such view is that the word butterfly came from a metathesis of "flutterby".

Some sources have erroneously suggested that the excrement of butterflies is thought to resemble butter, hence giving the name "butter-s.h.it", then "butter-fly". The problem with this, of course, is that other than to void excess water, butterflies do not excrete!

More likely origins include considering the that males of the common brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni, Pieridae) of England are butter-colored.

Author Samuel Jackson suggested, butterflies and the churning of butter are the simultaneous harbingers of spring, or that the word derives from the old myth that witches and fairies stole butter in the night, in the form of butterflies.♥

Answer 3

It was originally "buturfliogæ", a compound of butere "butter" and fleoge "fly". Most believe it is because many butterflies are yellow in colour, like butter. Most earlier butterflys were yellow, and tended to inhabitat the countryside where the word was coined.
Others say that butterflies were thought to land in kitchens and drink milk or butter left uncovered. This is (interestingly enough) supported by a German word for butterfly, "milchdieb" meaning 'milk-thief'.


*some people say it's because butterfly exrement is yellow - and looks like butter. Unfortunately for this theory, lepidoptera don't excrete.
*the "flutter by" thing is a ridiculous myth that people say to sound smart. It has no supported etymological basis. The word "butterfly" has been around since pre-8th century, whereas the word 'flutter' only appeared in English usage in the late 1300's in the form "floteren" - which means 'tossed by the waves'. It evolved to "flutter" in the 1600's in a term to describe 'moving quickly' - which quickly became an apt representation of the movements of a butterfly.

Answer 4

It started as a "Flutter by" and got turned around through the years.

Answer 5

Found a sources.