butterfly

Where does the word "butterfly" come from? It comes from Old English buttorflēoge, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Butterfly’s story begins in Old English: buttorflēoge meant “butterfly.” 'butter' plus 'fly'; perhaps for the yellow of common species, or an old belief that they stole butter and milk. It reached English by 1500s as butterfly. The swimming stroke was named in the 1930s. Today, butterfly means an insect with large colourful wings.

1. Stage 1 · Old English · 700s-1000s buttorflēoge "butterfly", 'butter' plus 'fly'; perhaps for the yellow of common species, or an old belief that they stole butter and milk.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s butterfly "butterfly", the swimming stroke was named in the 1930s.