'butterfly' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'butorflēoge', where 'butor' meant 'butter' and 'flēoge' meant 'fly'.

'butterfly' changed from the Middle English word 'buterflie' and eventually became the modern English word 'butterfly'.

Initially, it referred to the insect; the core meaning has largely remained the same, though folk etymologies about 'butter' influenced the word's story.