Why is a bumblebee called a bumblebee?

[annavc]

It occurred to me last night while watching one in the garden and it's now annoying me that I don't know! Does anyone know why "bumblebee"? Is it because they bumble about perhaps?!

[pug100]

Accordin to Wikipedia they are from the Bombini tribe perhaps it is a derivation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumblebee

[jno]

'boom' is an old word to describe a humming noise (it seems it once meant a much quieter noise than it does now); and it comes from that.

[annavc]

Thank you very much pug100 and jno - you learn something new everyday!

[horsestache1]

I don't know the answer to this, but my daughter aged 15 actually strokes them!!!!! Apparently the males do not have stings. the bee sits quietly on the flower whilst being gently stroked.

[kujawski]

cos it would sound silly if it was called and mumblebee or a bumbleboo.

[Clanad]

Caution is advised though... male bumblebees are fairly rare since it is the workers that usually are... well, working as in gathering nectar and pollenizing... the usual bee things. Bumblebees do seem more reluctant to sting, but, unlike honeybees their stingers are not barbed and, hence, thay can sting more than once. Anyone allergic to bee sting should certainly avoid them...

By the way <>I>Word Detective says this about origns:
"...The "bumble" in "bumblebee," the "humble" in "humblebee," and the "dumble" in "dumbledore" are all echoic in origin, meaning that the words themselves are supposed to imitate the sound of a loud hum. ("Bumble" meaning "to flub" or "blunder" is an entirely different word.) The "dore" in "dumbledore" comes from the Old English "dora," which meant an insect that flies and makes a loud humming sound." Very similar to jno's astute observation...