How did butterflies get their name?
Butterflies are little souls with large wings in a variety of hues. There will be hardly anyone who is unfamiliar with butterflies. I’m sure every one of you likes butterflies, and you have definitely tried to catch them in your childhood. However, it is a different matter whether you have been successful or not. It’s not easy to catch them with your hands, so you’ll need a butterfly net. Have you ever wondered why these little souls are named “Butterflies”? They neither resemble flying butter nor consume butter. So what could be the reason behind their being called butterflies?
It all depends on whom you would like to believe. Nobody knows for sure, since the word has been in the English language for centuries. The term was “buterfleoge” in old English, which means “butterfly” in modern English. Because it is such an old word, we don’t really know who or when someone remarked that the “thing” over there is a “butterfly.” People claimed that at night, witches would transform into winged creatures and steal milk and butter.
In the old days, the people of Germany (Anglo Saxons) used to call butterflies by the names “Botterlicker,” which means “Butter Licker,” “Molkendieb,” which means “Whey Thief,” and “Milchdieb,” which means “Milk Thief.” Peoples used to believe butterflies used to steal milk and butter during the middle ages. However, butterflies consume a wide range of substances, including urine, feces, and dead animals. Perhaps in the Middle Ages, when dairy products were made in barnyards, it is possible that butterflies snacked on discarded dairy products, giving rise to the names “Botterliker”, “Molkendieb” and “Milchdeb”.
In Russia, they known as “babochka,” which means “little soul.”
The Sioux Indians termed “butterflies” which means ‘fluttering wings’.
In India, they are called “titalee”, which means “colorful fickle”.
In Ancient Greek, they were known as “Psyche”, which also means “soul”. Many cultures around the world believe that after we die, our souls go to heaven in the form of butterflies.
In France, they are called “papillons.” Parking tickets are also called Papillon because they are big pieces of yellow paper. They flap like a large yellow butterfly when placed beneath a windshield wiper.
In the old days of the Dutch, they were named on the basis of the colour of feces and urine. The Dutch people termed them “Botercheijte”, which means “Butter Shit”. When butterflies metamorphose, their first defecation upon emerging from the chrysalis, called “Meconium,” is brightly colored, often yellow or orange. The tendency and propensity for butterflies to feast on faeces might also explain the Old Dutch term. Butter-colored sulphur butterflies feasting on animal excrement might have given rise to the name.
There are some stories that are not as pleasant. What is your thought? Why is a butterfly called a butterfly? How many of you had tried to catch them with your hands as a child? Tell us in the comments section.