wasp
UK: wɒsp | US: wɑːsp
n. a stinging winged insect with a slender body and narrow waist, typically yellow and black in color
n. (figuratively) a person who is sharp-tempered or spiteful
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The word "wasp" traces back to Old English wæps or wæsp, derived from Proto-Germanic wabis (source also of Old Saxon waspa, Old High German wafsa). Its deeper roots lie in Proto-Indo-European wobʰseh₂, linked to the verb webʰ- ("to weave"), likely referencing the insect’s papery nest-building behavior. The spelling stabilized in Middle English as "wasp," retaining its compact Germanic structure without separable morphemes.
A wasp stung her arm while she was gardening.
The picnic was interrupted by a swarm of aggressive wasps.
He’s as irritable as a wasp when he’s hungry.
Wasps play a role in controlling pest populations.
She carefully removed the wasp nest from the attic.