# Why not a spelling mosquito? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 12, 2002, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-a-spelling-mosquito/136359 "2002-11-12T03:03:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@sly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sly)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2002, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-a-spelling-mosquito/136359/1 "2002-11-12T03:03:36Z")
I’ve heard of other gatherings referred to as “bees” but I’ve always wondered why bees? If, by bee it is meant to draw the image of a group, wouldn’t Spelling Hive be more appropriate? What is the origin of the spelling bee and where was the first once held? Sly ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2002, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-a-spelling-mosquito/136359/2 "2002-11-12T03:18:39Z")
The OED dates the use of “bee” to mean > [@](#): > > In allusion to the social character of the insect (originally in U.S.): A meeting of neighbours to unite their labours for the benefit of one of their number; e.g. as is done still in some parts, when the farmers unite to get in each other’s harvests in succession; usually preceded by a word defining the purpose of the meeting, as apple-bee, husking-bee, quilting-bee, raising-bee, etc. **Hence, with extended sense: A gathering or meeting for some object; esp. spelling-bee, a party assembled to compete in the spelling of words**. back to 1769. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2002, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-a-spelling-mosquito/136359/3 "2002-11-12T14:20:06Z")
A misspelled word in a spelling bee may give a contestant a sting. But a spelling mosquito would _suck!_ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2002, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-a-spelling-mosquito/136359/4 "2002-11-12T14:21:24Z")
(Or it would really bite.) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2002, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-a-spelling-mosquito/136359/5 "2002-11-12T15:01:35Z")
Yeah, but a mosquito would be a natural at a _quilting bee_ (quilting mosquito?). ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2002, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-a-spelling-mosquito/136359/6 "2002-11-14T05:18:16Z")
The 1769 cite was from Mathews, and refers to communal gatherings, not a spelling bee. The actual cite is “Last Thursday about Twenty young Ladies met at the House of Mr. Nehemian Liscome, here [Taunton, Mass.] on purpose fro a Spinning Match; (or what is call’d in the Country a Bee).” Those country folks had obviously seen bees co-operate in a hive situation. The City folk called it a “Spinning Match.” No doubt they were more familiar with games/matches. The first use of the word “hive” in reference to the phrases is from 1823, and said, in part "For the clergy, in country places,…they have what they denominate a ‘bee,’ or ‘hive.’ " To the **OP** , the OED cites “spelling bee” from 1876.