English

honeybug

From honey + bug.

A compound of honey + bug

Proto-Indo-European *kn̥h₂ónks

…

Proto-Germanic *hunagą

Proto-West Germanic *hunag

Old English huniġ

Middle English hony

English honey

Middle English bugge ‘scarecrow, hobgoblin’

English bug

Today it means

noun Term of endearment.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / honeybug