The word “butterfly” is an unusually specific name for a common insect, combining the name of a dairy product with the act of flight. This simple construction belies a complex and debated etymological history stretching back over a thousand years. While the insect is universally recognized, the precise reason English speakers settled on this compound word remains shrouded in folklore and linguistic uncertainty. Understanding the name requires looking into the beliefs of medieval Europe, where the line between natural observation and superstition was often blurred.
The Dominant Theory Linking Butter and Flight
The most frequently cited explanations for the name’s origin revolve around the insect’s color or its perceived behavior around food. The English word originates from the Old English term butorfleoge, in use by approximately 1000 C.E.. One theory suggests the name arose because the earliest or most common species observed in the spring were often pale yellow, reminiscent of butter. This is plausible when considering the Brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni), a species with bright, butter-yellow wings that is one of the first to emerge in the European spring.
A competing theory suggests the name is connected to an old folk belief that the insects, or sometimes witches disguised as them, would sneak into homes and consume or spoil milk and butter. This idea is supported by similar names in other Germanic languages, such as the German regional name Molken-dieb (“whey thief”), or the Low German Botterlicker (“butter-licker”). Furthermore, an Old Dutch cognate, boterschijte (“butter-excrement”), suggests an alternative connection to the insect’s first post-metamorphosis excretion, which can be brightly colored.
Historical Folklore and Other Theories
Beyond the direct association with dairy, other cultural and regional theories have been put forward to explain the name. Some older beliefs linked butterflies to spirits or the supernatural, viewing them as small, flitting entities. The German word Schmetterling is thought to be derived from Schmetten, an old term for cream or sour cream, reinforcing the notion that butterflies were associated with cream-stealing witches.
A different, though less accepted, idea posits that the word may not be related to the food product but to a word for the beating or fluttering of wings. Other regional European names connect the insect to the season of its appearance, such as the Danish sommerfugl, which literally means “summer bird.”
Comparing Names in Other Languages
The unique “butter-fly” construction stands out when compared to the names used in other major language families. In many Romance languages, the name is rooted in the Latin papilio, which also means “tent” or “canopy,” giving rise to the French papillon and the Italian farfalla. The Spanish word mariposa is thought to come from a phrase meaning “Mary, alight” or “rest on the ground,” reflecting a religious or perhaps a children’s rhyme origin.
In a broader sense, many languages connect the insect to the concept of the soul or spirit, reflecting the butterfly’s transformative life cycle. The Ancient Greek word for butterfly was psyche, which is also the word for “soul” or “mind”. Similarly, the Russian word babochka is a diminutive of baba, meaning “old woman” or “grandmother,” stemming from a folk belief that the souls of the deceased lived on as butterflies.
How Scientists Name Butterflies
The common name “butterfly” is distinct from the formal, globally recognized scientific name applied by entomologists. All butterflies, along with moths, belong to the insect order Lepidoptera. This formal classification is derived from Greek, combining the words lepido, meaning “scale,” and ptera, meaning “wing”.
This name precisely describes the insects’ most defining physical characteristic: their wings are covered in thousands of minute, overlapping scales. Scientists utilize the Linnaean system of binomial nomenclature, giving each species a unique two-part Latinized name. This system is based on shared physical traits and evolutionary relationships, providing a universal language for species identification.