Why’s it called a spelling ‘bee,’ anyhow? May 28, 2019

Why’s it called a spelling ‘bee,’ anyhow?

You might recognize our homepage friend from the logo of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, an annual US competition since 1925. Why’s it called a spelling bee? Because another meaning of ‘bee’ is any kind of gathering or meeting for collective work or competition, like a quilting bee or, yes, a spelling bee. The Scripps National Spelling Bee is being held this week in National Harbor, Maryland, and savvy spellers from grade schools and middle schools around the world will compete for top honors.

© Konrad Wothe/Minden Pictures

palette

Today in History

May 28, 2018Honoring the fallen
May 28, 2020Old man s whiskers growing wild
May 28, 2021Freeloaders of the avian world
May 28, 2022Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park, Australia
May 28, 2023Tegallalang terrace farms in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
May 28, 2024The Monastery of Roussanou, Greece
May 28, 2025World Otter Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

May 21, 2025International Tea Day
Aug 5, 2019A ‘Superior’ paddle
Oct 20, 2020Reflecting on fall
Sep 17, 2025A young bull moose in Denali National Park, Alaska
Mar 30, 2024Brown-throated three-toed sloth in cecropia tree, Costa Rica
Jul 21, 2020Belgium celebrates its independence
Jul 16, 2023Bear Hole Brook, Catskill Mountains, New York
Jan 31, 2023Burchells zebras for International Zebra Day
Jan 31, 2026International Zebra Day
Mar 12, 2018It’s Napping Day
Nov 15, 2018‘Ocian in view! O! The joy.’
Oct 30, 2022Polar Bear Week
Jun 6, 2022Indigo bunting
Oct 15, 2025National Mushroom Day
Jul 31, 2024Hoodoos, Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
May 12, 2025An iris garden in Tokyo, Japan
Apr 28, 2025Impala in Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Mar 9, 2026Gray seal sleeping on the beach, Orkney Islands, Scotland
Mar 3, 2018Celebrating World Wildlife Day
Aug 11, 2022It s Mountain Day in Japan
May 1, 2021It s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Mar 21, 2022World Poetry Day
Jul 29, 2020Góða ólavsøku, from the Faroes!
Oct 5, 2021A day to celebrate teachers
May 25, 2019Traveling warblers
May 26, 2018Honoring the first American woman in space
Dec 30, 2018Adorably evolutionary sea sheep
May 2, 2021Happy World Laughter Day
Nov 26, 2024Celebrating World Olive Tree Day
Mar 6, 2022Great cormorants