Venus fly-trap（n.）
carnivorous plant of the Carolinas, by 1768, Venus's fly-trap, sometimes also Venus's mousetrap; fly-trap was a name for native European sticky plants that capture and digest insects (see fly (n.1)).
The plant was brought to the attention of botanists in England in 1760 when Gov. Arthur Dobbs of North Carolina wrote of it to English gardener and seed-importer Peter Collinson, describing it and adding, "To this surprising plant I have given the name of Fly-trap Sensitive."
The name Venus's fly-trap appears 1768, in a "London Magazine" article ("A New Sensitive Plant Discovered," October) that credits the name to Collinson's circle of friends who examined it; it explains Venus as "from the beautiful appearance of its milk white flowers and the elegance of its leaves."
The article is signed "J.E.," presumably John Ellis, crown official for the colonies who actively promoted New World plants for gardening and commercial use and was among Collinson's circle. In 1770 Ellis promoted the Venus fly-trap in England as a plant that "is likely to become an inhabitant of the curious gardens in this country, and merits the attention of the ingenious."
Ellis also seems to be responsible for establishing the scientific name, Dionæa muscipula, Dione being taken as one of the Roman names for Venus.
From the structure then and particular moving quality of its leaves when irritated, I shall call it Dionea Muscipula, which may be construed into English, with humble submission both to critics and foreign commentators, either Venus's Flytrap or Venus's Mousetrap. ["J.E."]
The Central Atlantic Coast Algonquian name for the plant, /titipiwitshik/, yielded regional American English colloquial tippity wichity.
该词起源时间：1768年