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hornet
(hôr′nit)
noun
any of several large social wasps (family Vespidae), strikingly colored yellow and black
Origin: ME harnette < OE hyrnet, akin to Ger hornisse < IE base *er- (see horn) > L crabro, hornet
See hornet in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
Any of various large stinging wasps of the family Vespidae, chiefly of the genera Vespa and Vespula, that characteristically build large papery nests.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English hornet
Origin: , alteration (probably influenced by horn, horn)
Origin: of hernet
Origin: , from Old English hyrnet; see ker-1 in Indo-European roots
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