Where does “thunderbug” come from?

thunderbug (English) comes from English thunder, from Middle English thunder, from Old English Þunor, from Proto-West Germanic þunr, from Proto-Germanic Þunraz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ten- — to thunder, rustle, rumble, drone, groan; to...

thunderbug (English): A thrips

Definitions

  1. A thrips

Ancestry of “thunderbug”, step by step

thunderbug traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English thunder

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishthunderThe loud rumbling, cracking, or crashing sound...
2Middle EnglishthunderAlternative form of thonder
3Old EnglishÞunorthe Anglo-Saxon god of thunder, equivalent to Old Norse Þórr and Old High German Donar
4Proto-West Germanicþunrthunder
5Proto-GermanicÞunrazThor, god of thunder
6Proto-Indo-European(s)ten-to thunder, rustle, rumble, drone, groan; to...

via English Bug

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBugA Volkswagen Beetle car; A Bugatti car
2Englishbuggebeetle
3Middle Englishbuggebogy, hobgoblin, bugbear; scarecrow
4Proto-Germanicbugja-swollen up, thick
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰew-to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ten-Every word from Proto-Germanic ÞunrazEvery word from Proto-West Germanic þunr