Where does the word butterfly come from?

Answer 1

According to popular belief, the word butterfly is derived from the expression 'butter-coloured fly'. This term may have been applied to the Brimstone, one of Britain's most well known butterflies and often the first species to be seen when they awake from hibernation in the Spring. This might be a better way to explain it. In Old English the word was spelt butterfloege and in Old Dutch and German it was botervlieg and butterfliege respectively. These three terms translate as butter fly. Another German name, michdieb means milk thief, probably reffering to the way butterflies once and may still be attracted to buttermilk.