Does the word butterfly derive from transposition of word order, i.e., "flutter by"? Several dictionaries that I looked this up in so long ago that I've forgotten which ones, said either "origin unknown" or referred to butter, or German or Dutch words for butter, which doesn't seem to make sense, in that butterflies seek to ingest flower nectar, not butter.
Learn English – Etymology of Butterfly
etymologyword-formation
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Best Answer
Concerning the etymology of 'butterfly', several theories have been proposed. Ernest Adams in Notes and Queries, June 24, 1876, pp. 516–7, first observes that the second element of the word poses no particular etymological difficulties, then ably summarizes the theories:
Adams (an amateur lepidopterist), then continues:
I find Adams' "speculation" more consistent and plausible than any of the other theories proposed: