Etymology is the study of the origins of words. English is a particularly rich language because it has borrowed words from different cultures and has been influenced by a variety of European languages. I love to read about the origins of words and phrases – we learn so much about how people thought and lived in historical times. I’ve always been fascinated by ladybirds (ladybugs in American English). Where did they get their name from? Why are they called “ladybirds?”
