hornet

nounattested in dialogue

United Kingdom//ˈhɔː.nɪt//
United States//ˈhɔɹ.nɪt//

Any large wasp of the genus Vespa, having a brown-and-yellow-striped body and the ability to inflict a serious sting.

noun

1
Any large wasp of the genus Vespa, having a brown-and-yellow-striped body and the ability to inflict a serious sting.
2
A person who pesters with petty but ceaseless attacks.

Etymology

From Middle English hernet, from Old English hyrnetu, hyrnete, from Proto-West Germanic *hurnutu, from Proto-Germanic *hurznutō (compare German Hornisse), alteration of Proto-Germanic *hursulǭ (compare Dutch horzel), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱr̥h₂sro- (“hornet”, literally “the one with horns (antennae)”), from *ḱerh₂- (“horn”) (compare Welsh creyryn (“gadfly”), Latin crābrō (“hornet”), Lithuanian širšė (“wasp”), Proto-Slavic *sьrxy (whence Old Church Slavonic сръшень (srŭšenĭ, “hornet”) and many others), Albanian grerë, grenzë (“wasp, hornet”)).

Forms

plural: hornets

hormones · Hormone replacement therapy.horn · A hard growth of keratin that protrudes from the top of the…Horn · Cape Horn, at the southern tip of South America.

hornet · Any large wasp of the genus Vespa, having a brown-and-yellow-striped body and the ability to inflict a serious sting.

Hornet · someone connected with Watford Football Club, as a fan,…horny · Hard or bony, like an animal's horn.horoscope · The position of the planets and stars at the moment of…

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