Flutterbies

[Champagne]

Do you think that the person who named Butterflies was dyslexic?

[vicalncraig]

sey

[Quizmonster]

I know you're asking this as a joke, but just as a matter of interest...
It's a lovely notion that the word �butterfly' comes from the fact that one may be seen to �flutter by'. ..ie that it is just a metathesis or letter-swop...or bit if dyslexia. Sadly that's all it is...a notion.
Even in Old English days, the words �butter' and �fly' were joined to create �butorfleoge' as the creature's name. There may be a connection with a Dutch dialect word for butterfly...�boterschijte', which suggests a relationship between butter and butterfly excrement, both being yellow. Unfortunately - though probably more accurate - that's not quite such a pretty picture as flutter-by!
Another theory is that �butor' was also the Old English name for the finest of pasture-land. Obviously, many butterflies would be attracted to such grass and the cattle on it would produce the finest of butter...hence the name of the dairy product.
A strange thing is the fact that the word �butterfly' itself seems to come from different roots in each of the other four major European languages...French = papillon, Italian = farfalla, Spanish = mariposa and German = Schmetterling.
Cheers

[Thunderbird+]

I've always understood that the name butterfly had derived from the brimstone butterfly which is a buttery-yellow. Another whimsical notion maybe ?

[Champagne]

ROFL @ vicalncraig!!

And thanks Quizmonster. Where would we be without geniuses like you? Or is it genii? Anyway, I loved your answer. Ta. x

[Quizmonster]

My pleasure, C, and thank you for the kind comment.