Drone
/droʊn/noun
A male bee that does not gather nectar or pollen and is usually produced in the spring.
Did you know?The term 'drone' originally referred to the low, humming sound made by bees, which echoes the ancient concept of sound as a force of nature.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*drōnō
“A buzzing or humming sound, often associated with bees.”
Old English
OE
drān
“A male bee, often considered lazy compared to worker bees.”
Middle English
ME
dron
“A male bee, used in the context of idleness.”
14th Century
Middle English
dronen
“To make a continuous humming or buzzing sound, like that of a bee.”
Modern English
English
drone
“Refers to both the male bee and a device that makes a similar buzzing sound.”