Word: butterfly Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʷṓws Proto-Hellenic *gʷous Ancient Greek βοῦς (boûs) Proto-Indo-European *tewh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-rós Proto-Indo-European *tuh₂rós Proto-Hellenic *tūrós Ancient Greek τυρός (turós) Ancient Greek βούτῡρον (boútūron)bor. Latin būtȳrumbor. Proto-West Germanic *buterā Old English butere Proto-Indo-European *plew- Proto-Indo-European *plewk- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *pléwketi Proto-Germanic *fleuganą Proto-Germanic *fleugǭ Proto-West Germanic *fleugā Old English flēoge Old English buterflēoge Middle English boterflye English butterfly From Middle English buterflie, butturflye, boterflye, from Old English buterflēoge, equivalent to butter + fly. Cognate with Dutch botervlieg, German Butterfliege (“butterfly”). The name may have originally been applied to butterflies of a yellowish color, or reflected a belief that butterflies ate milk and butter (compare German Molkendieb (“butterfly”, literally “whey-thief”) and Low German Botterlicker (“butterfly”, literally “butter-licker”)), or that they excreted a butter-like substance (compare Dutch boterschijte (“butterfly”, literally “butter-excretor”)). Compare also German Schmetterling from Schmetten (“cream”), German Low German Bottervögel (“butterfly”, literally “butter-fowl”). More at butter, fly. An alternate theory suggests that the first element may have originally been Old English butor- (“beater”), a mutation of bēatan (“to beat”), but this would not explain the cognates in other languages or the other names formed with milk products. Superseded non-native Middle English papilion (“butterfly”) borrowed from Old French papillon (“butterfly”). Contrary to popularised belief, the form "butterfly" was not derived from an earlier flutterby. Pronunciation: /ˈbʌ.tə(ɹ).flaɪ/, [ˈbʌ.tə.flaɪ], [ˈbʌ.ɾɚ.flaɪ], [ˈbʌ.ɾə.flɑɪ] 1. A flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, distinguished from moths by their diurnal activity and generally brighter colouring. Example: It is true. I am like a butterfly, and I shall only live a little while. Example: Dr Andre Gilburn, of the University of Stirling, who led the butterfly study, said: “Our study not only identifies a worrying link between the use of neonicotinoids and declines in butterflies but also suggests that the strength of their impact on many species could be huge.” 2. A use of surgical tape, cut into thin strips and placed across an open wound to hold it closed. Labels: attributive Example: butterfly tape; butterfly bandage; butterfly strips 3. The butterfly stroke. 4. Any of several plane curves that look like a butterfly; see Butterfly curve (transcendental) and Butterfly curve (algebraic). 5. Ellipsis of butterflies in one’s stomach (“A sensation of excited anxiety felt in the stomach”). Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, in-plural Example: I get terrible butterflies before an exam. 6. Someone seen as being unserious and (originally) dressed gaudily; someone flighty and unreliable. Labels: archaic Example: He was affable; therefore he was frivolous. The women liked him; therefore he was a butterfly. Example: The day came indeed when her breathless auditors learnt from her in bewilderment that what ailed him was that he was, alas, simply not serious. Maisie wept on Mrs. Wix's bosom after hearing that Sir Claude was a butterfly[…]. 7. A combination of four options of the same type at three strike prices giving limited profit and limited risk. 8. A random change in an aspect of the timeline seemingly unrelated to the primary point of divergence, resulting from the butterfly effect. Example: One potential butterfly could be JFK having another son the year after the POD instead of a daughter. 9. A type of stretch in which one sits on the ground with the legs folded into a shape like that of a butterfly's wings, slightly rocking them up and down, resembling the wings fluttering. 10. A person who changes partners frequently. Example: What does it mean to be a butterfly in Pattaya? It means, just like a butterfly briefly visits many flowers, you will briefly visit many different girls. 11. A safety link or detaching hook above the cage attached to the winding rope to prevent the cage from being overwound. 12. party switcher; turncoat. Labels: Philippine, Philippines, derogatory, often