How Did Butterflies Get Their English Name?

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Frequently Asked Questions about Butterflies and Moths

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• General
  • What are butterflies and moths?
  • How many kinds of butterflies and moths exist?
  • What is the difference between butterflies and moths?
  • Are there endangered butterflies and moths?
  • Are butterflies poisonous?
  • Which butterflies are poisonous?
  • Why are butterflies and moths such good insects?
  • How did butterflies get their English name?
  • How do you say "butterfly" in other languages?
  • How do I identify a caterpillar?
  • How much do butterflies weigh?
  • How long do butterflies live?
  • Do butterflies have brains and hearts?
  • Are butterflies and moths pollinators?
• Life Cycle
  • What is the life cycle of butterflies and moths?
  • How does a caterpillar turn into a butterfly?
  • Why do caterpillars turn into butterflies?
  • How do caterpillars "know" when it is time to turn into a chrysalis?
  • What is the red liquid that comes out of a butterfly's abdomen after emergence?
  • Do caterpillars breathe in their chrysalids?
  • What is the difference between a chrysalis and a cocoon?
  • Does a butterfly eat the chrysalis after it emerges?
• Appearance
  • Why are butterfly and moth wings so delicate?
  • Why do some butterfly and moth wings have such brilliant colors?
  • Do caterpillars have teeth?
  • Do caterpillars or butterflies have ears?
  • Why do butterflies have dust on their wings?
  • Do butterflies look the same on both sides?
  • How does one tell the difference between male and female butterflies?
  • How many legs does a caterpillar have?
  • Why do some caterpillars have such funny colors?
  • Can you tell a moth caterpillar from a butterfly caterpillar?
• Behavior
  • How do butterflies go to the bathroom?
  • Do butterflies eat bugs?
  • What do butterflies and moths eat?
  • How do butterflies mate?
  • How do butterflies communicate?
  • How do butterflies fly?
  • How high and fast do butterflies fly?
  • Do caterpillars drink water?
  • Do butterflies sleep or take brief naps?
  • Where do butterflies go when it rains?
  • Do caterpillars hide somewhere at night?
  • Do butterflies get cold?
  • How do butterflies bathe?
• Catching and Handling
  • Where can I find butterflies and moths?
  • How can I catch a butterfly or moth?
  • Where can I buy caterpillars?
  • How can I raise a caterpillar?
  • Can you damage a butterfly by handling it?
  • Are any caterpillars dangerous to hold?

1. How did butterflies get their English name?

How did butterflies get their English name?

How did butterflies get their English name?

No one knows for sure, since the word has been in the English language for centuries. The word was "buterfleoge" in Old English, which means "butterfly" in our English today. Because it is such an old word, we don't really know who or when someone said "That 'thing' over there is a 'butterfly'." One story is that they were named so because it was thought that butterflies, or witches that took on the shape of butterflies, stole milk and butter. (Someone else wondered if the word was really meant to be "flutter-by" ). In other languages, the word for our fluttery friends has no such derivation as "butter" + "fly". One can only speculate on why the English language uses such an unlikely name.

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