I am Australian and have always known it exclusively as the American term “ladybug”. Never heard of ladybird before.

  • tegs_terry
    3·
    2 years ago

    Santa Maria is the lady in question. The bird part could be a corruption of ‘beetle’ maybe? Or perhaps just it just sounded more poetic.

    • music
      2·
      2 years ago

      Germany: Marienkäfer (Mary’s beetle)

      France: la bete a bon Dieu (good God’s animal)

      Russia: Bozhya korovka (God’s little cow)

      Greece: paschalitsa (little Easter)

      Portugal: joaninha (little Joanne)

      Spain: mariquita (little Maria)

      Wales: buwch goch gota (small red cow)

      Scotland: daolag-bhreac (speckled beetle)

      Slovenia: pikapolonica (spotty bug)

      Argentina: Vaquita de San Antonio (St. Anthony’s small cow)

      Stolen from https://www.nickybay.com/ladybird-beetles-brief-history-behind-name-lady/

      • tegs_terry
        1·
        2 years ago

        I think, if ordered correctly, we’d discover exactly how this game of Chinese Whispers played out.