a HackerNoon project
Original · left

Insect

A small insect, creepy-crawly organism, or mild infectious illness.

First in use: ancient / pre-modern
Duplicate · right

Software bug

A flaw, error, or failure in computer code that produces incorrect or unintended behavior.

First in use: c. 1947

Bug / Insect / Software bug

Loading data…
Canonical todayMeasuring…
Status—
Duplicate share · 12 mo—
Last crossover—
Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

Grace Hopper's moth made it stick.

Which meaning of Bug is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Insect came first (ancient / pre-modern). Software bug arrived in 1947. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

InsectSoftware bug
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

Share-of-attention line loads here.

The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · ancient / pre-modern

Insect

Loading the Wikipedia definition…

12-mo pageviews—
Year over year—
Peak month—
Duplicate · c. 1947

Software bug

Loading the Wikipedia definition…

12-mo pageviews—
Year over year—
Peak month—

More duplicated terms

Programming & software