Misnomers

This list gives a humorous and surprising look at how language can lead to unexpected associations!

• Red panda: Despite the name, it is not a panda species. This endangered, raccoon-like, arboreal mammal is native to the Eastern Himalayas and Southwestern China.
• White chocolate: Not actually chocolate, as chocolate is prepared from ground, roasted cacao beans. White chocolate is made of cocoa butter and flavorings.
• Titmouse: Not a mouse, but a small North American oscine bird with a short bill and a long tail.
• Gravy train: Neither gravy nor a train, but a situation where one can gain wealth with minimal effort.
• Buffalo wing: Not from a buffalo nor its wings. The term refers to a style of deep-fried, saucy chicken wings originating in Buffalo, New York.
• Cat burglar: Not a thief who steals cats, but an adept burglar known for leaving no trace.
• Butterfly: This term can refer to the graceful, fluttering insect, a swimming stroke, or a hockey stance—none of which involve actual butter.
• Coat of arms: Lacks an actual coat. It is an emblem used historically by medieval knights, noble houses, and states.
• Ladybug: Though commonly called a “bug,” it is a beetle of the family Coccinellidae. Ladybugs are beneficial as they prey on aphids and other pests.
• Peanut: Not a nut, but a legume, related to beans and lentils.
• Starfish: Not a fish, but a marine echinoderm in the Asteroidea class.
• Koala bear: Despite the name, koalas are marsupials, not bears.
• Pineapple: Has neither pine nor apple; it’s a tropical fruit from the bromeliad family.
• Glowworm: Not a worm, but the larval form of various insect species that glow.
• Shooting star: Not a star, but a small meteor burning up upon entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
• Jellyfish: Not a fish, but an invertebrate in the Cnidaria phylum.
• Silkworm: Not a worm, but the larva of the silk moth (Bombyx mori).
• Mountain chicken: Not a chicken, but a large frog found in the Caribbean.
• Ringworm: Not a worm, but a fungal skin infection.