Butterfly? Is there butter on a fly? Wouldn't flutterby make more sense?
2007-03-27 17:32:07 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
There is also a commercial that I herad this mentioned on, but I don't remember which one. Hope this helps.
The original name for butterfly was flutterby
The butterfly is erroneously thought to have been a variation of the word "flutterby". The first recording of the actual word appears to be the olde English "butterfloege", as well as a similar Dutch word, both having their roots in the belief that butterflies drank milk. In England, many people still insist the word comes from the Brimstone Butterfly, a butter-colored insect that is often the harbinger of Spring.
2007-03-27 18:05:07 · answer #1 · answered by attack_of_the_5ft_girl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They actually used to be called flutterbys, but when different indiginous peoples mixed up the names they thought it was butterfly.
2007-03-28 00:55:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
butterfly
O.E. 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 Du. cognate boterschijte.
A fascinating overview of words for "butterfly" in various languages can be found here.
The swimming stroke so called from 1936.
Butterflies "light stomach spasms caused by anxiety" is from 1908.
2007-03-28 01:28:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree! And it could also be used as a verb... I just flutterbied to answer your question. =]
2007-03-28 00:40:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i like flutterby but is there always a reason behind everything, well this is one of those unexplainable things
2007-03-28 00:41:32 · answer #5 · answered by out of it 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've always wondered that too. I've always called them flutterby's anyway.
2007-03-28 00:35:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think I read somewhere that they were originally called flutter-bys, but then someone (probably a small child) miscalled them butterflys. The yellow ones do look like butter, and they fly . . . .
http://www.aworldforbutterflies.com/etymology.htm
But this link above says nope, it's really butterfly, and attempts to explain why.
2007-03-28 00:43:31 · answer #7 · answered by Madame M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i agree flutterby makes more sense.
2007-03-28 00:36:06 · answer #8 · answered by psst..its me 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe, some butterfly's wings looks buttery?
Dragonfly looks nothing like a dragon either.
2007-03-28 00:41:09 · answer #9 · answered by tienyutai 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All the same, the spice must flow.
2007-03-28 00:36:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋