Y r butterflys called butterflys there nothing to do with butter?

Question

Y r butterflys called butterflys there nothing to do with butter?

Answer 1

And what's the deal with 'ladybirds?'

Answer 2

lol I'm so pleased I looked this up now:

[Middle English butterflye, from Old English butorfloge : butor, butere, butter; see  butter + floge, fly; see  fly2.]

Word History: Is a butterfly named for the color of its excrement or because it was thought to steal butter? It is hard to imagine that anyone ever noticed the color of butterfly excrement or believed the insect capable of such theft. The first suggestion rests on the fact that an early Dutch name for the butterfly was boterschijte (i.e. butter-shite). The second is based on an old belief that the butterfly was really a larcenous witch in disguise.

Answer 3

People used to think butterflies were witches or fairies in disguise stealing butter, cream and milk. This could also be the reason for the name butterfly.

Answer 4

http://www.aworldforbutterflies.com/etym...

Answer 5

they used to be called flutter-by's and the name evolved from there

Answer 6

It's from the colour yellow like butter.

Answer 7

First off, butterflies have been around longer than humans and butter.  The reason that common name stuck is because certain butterflies had the same coloration as butter.  So, yes they do have something to do with butter.

Answer 8

yeah i heard on the tv that it was because the most common species of butterfly in england when the anglosaxon name came to exist was of a yellow color so they called it a butterfly. they also claimed that the other theories where more than likely myth.

Answer 9

Yeah why?  and monkeys? they surely came before monks were invented lol x

Answer 10

The yellow butterfly that used to be so prolific is the Brimstone.  Its caterpillars feed exclusively on buckthorn, which is not planted as widely in hedgerows as it once was.  Hence, you don't see that many Brimstones any more.  However, I believe that it was the inspiration for the origin of the name 'butterfly'.