People have been wondering about the origin of the word ‘Bug’ in the context of computer software. While there’s a famous story about finding a real moth in a computer relay in 1947, which contributed to the term, ‘bug’ had been around for a while.
Actually, ‘bug’ comes from words like ‘Bugbear’ or ‘Bugaboo,’ which are similar to ‘Gremlin.’ Engineers working on early computers sometimes believed that their technical problems were caused by mischievous creatures, like spooks or spirits.
Some even humorously say that certain software is cursed by such spirits. The ‘Bug’ part of the word has been used since the fifteenth century to mean things like ‘Hobgoblin,’ devil, or ghost.
In a specific area of England called East Anglia, the term ‘Bugbear’ has been used since the sixteenth century to describe problems with machinery. So, the idea of ‘bugs’ causing issues has a long history, even before computers.
