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from the phrase "flutter by"--it's a Spoonerism.

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Agnes Bogan

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2y ago
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14y ago

Answer: We have not been able to find a definitive answer to this question. One interesting theory about its origin, however, can be found in a book written by Eden Emanuel Sarot in 1958 entitled Folklore of the Dragonfly: A Linguistic Approach. He theorized that the name dragonfly actually came about because of an ancient Romanian Folktale. In the folktale, the Devil turned a beautiful horse ridden by St. George (of St. George and the dragon fame) into a giant, flying insect. The Romanian names the people supposedly refed to this giant insect (when translated into English) mean 'St. George's Horse' or, more commonly, 'Devil's Horse.' According to Sarot, the peasantry of that time actually viewed the Devil's Horse as a giant fly and that they may have started referring to it as the 'Devil's Fly' (instead of Devil's Horse). He stated that the Romanian word for Devil was "drac," but that drac was also the Romanian word for dragon. He thought that eventually the Romanian name for the Devil's Fly was erroneously translated to the English Dragon Fly and this eventually evolved into the "dragonfly!"

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11y ago

they saw a dragon flying

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Q: How do dragonflies get there name?
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Related questions

What is the scienctific name for dragonflies?

The scientific name for dragonflies is Odonata.


Where do dragonflies come from?

There are several Families of dragonflies. If you are looking for the commonly used general classification name for them, the Order name for dragonflies and damselflies is Odonata. The Suborder for dragonflies is Anisoptera. Odonata Central (http://www.odonatacentral.org) has lots of photos and classification information if you are looking for the Family name for a particular type of dragonfly.


How did dragonflies get the name?

they saw a dragon flying


Is there a name for fear of dragonflies?

yes dragoferosus


What preys upon dragonflies?

Dragonflies have too many predators to list. They're eaten by birds, bats, frogs, fish, large spiders, wasps and other dragonflies, to name a few.


What is the white tailed dragonflies scientific name?

Libellula lydia


Do dragonflies eat other dragonflies?

yes


What is the order of dragonflies?

Odonata is the name of the order of dragonflies. It merges as members insects of the Anisoptera suborder of dragonflies and the Zygoptera suborder of damselflies. The name of the order traces its origins back to the ancient Greek οδόντoς (οδούς, odontos) for "tooth" even though damselflies and dragonflies are not unique in claiming toothed mandibles.


What is the scientific name of the blue dasher dragonflies?

The scientific name for the Blue dasher is Pachydiplax longipennis


How do dragonflies emit light?

Dragonflies do not emit light. The insect that you are thinking of is a firefly, or the scientific name is Lampyridae, which are a class of beetles. They are nicknamed 'lightning bugs' in the US.


Are dragonflies invertebrates or vertebrates?

Dragonflies are invertebrates


Who were the ancestors of dragonflies?

The ancestors to the dragonflies was the Protondonata. These were the 1st winged insects on Earth and the earliest form of dragonflies.