“Butterfly” is clearly “butter” plus “fly,” yet nobody is entirely sure why. One old theory says the insects were thought to steal butter or milk; another points to the buttery yellow of common European species.
Compounds like this are a reminder that meaning and history don’t always line up. “Pineapple” contains neither pine nor apple in the modern sense, and a “hamburger” never required ham.
In SEEKING you don’t need the history — you need the link. But noticing these quirks keeps your word instincts sharp, which is exactly what the daily puzzle rewards.
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