[Lexicog] lady bug

[Jan F. Ullrich]

Nick,

I don't want to sound like a native speaker who murmurs against a non-native
linguist repeatedly. That is not my intention.
Nevertheless, 'beruška' does not sound like "a diminutive of 'brouk'
('beetle')" to my native ear. Checking the word in the Czech Etymological
dictionary reveals that the origin of the word is unclear, with two or three
theoretically possible, but unproven options.
By the way, the older version of beruška is berunka, and an even older one
is bedrunka, still used here in the Wallachian dialect.

Jan




>  -----Original Message-----
> From: 	lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com] 
> Sent:	Friday, September 16, 2005 9:41 AM
> To:	lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com
> Subject:	RE: [Lexicog]  lady bug
> 
> In Czech ladybird is 'beruška'- just a diminutive of 'brouk' - 'beetle'
> 
> Do you know this info?:
> "Now about the words "ladybug" and "ladybird." Our "ladybug" is the
> supposedly inelegant corruption of "ladybird," so the main question deals
> with the etymology of "ladybird." "Ladybird" is itself a sort of
> corruption of the term "Our Lady's Bird," with "Our Lady" being understood
> to be the Virgin Mary. The idea apparently is that ladybugs are so pretty
> that they're worthy of being associated with The Virgin. This notion flows
> through other cultures as well. The French call ladybugs "les betes du bon
> Dieu," or "creatures of the good God," and "les vaches de la Vierge," or
> "cows of the Virgin." The Germans call them "Marienkäfer," or "Mary's
> beetles." "
> The link is http://www.backyardnature.net/n/03/031228.htm written by one
> Jim Conrad
> 
> Nick Miller << File: avast info.txt >> 


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