During Grade School, Participating in Spelling Bees Was My Jam
Here's the buzz. The "bee" in "spelling bee" doesn't refer to the buzzing insect. Instead, it comes from the English word "been" or "bean," which means "help given by neighbors." This word is related to the Middle English word "bene," meaning "a prayer" or "a favour," and is the root of our word... Sign in to see full entry.