lady-bug dial. and U.S.
= lady-bird.
| 1699 Phil. Trans. R. Soc. XXI. 50, I have happened upon..three or four sorts of Lady-Bugs. 1787 Grose Pop. Superstit. in Provinc. Gloss., etc. 64 It is held extremely unlucky to kill a cricket, a lady-bug, a swallow [etc.]. 1844 ‘J. Slick’ High Life N.Y. II. 30 Like lady bugs round a full blown rose. 1886 Harper's Mag. June 45/2 We may discover lady-bugs—small red or yellow and black beetles—among our vines. 1889 M. E. Bamford Up & Down Brooks 49 Very frequently one will find a lady-bug with the spider. 1910 N.Y. Even. Post 4 Apr. (Th.), Los Angeles, April 1.—Millions of ladybugs are receiving free transportation..to the melon fields of the Imperial valley. 1972 Swan & Papp Common Insects N. Amer. xx. 403 Lady Beetles (Coccinellidae). The common British name for these beetles, ‘ladybird’, is still used to some extent in America; ‘ladybug’ is probably the most familiar name. |