Wasp
/wɒsp/noun
A flying insect of the order Hymenoptera, typically with a narrow waist and a sting.
Did you know?English *wasp* comes from a prehistoric Germanic word reconstructed as *wabis-/*waps-, with close relatives across Indo-European languages, but its exact deeper origin is still uncertain.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂op- / *h₁ep-
“A proposed ancient root for insects and small flying creatures; the deeper connection is uncertain and debated.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*wabis- / *waps-
“A wasp.”
Old English
OE
wæsp
“A wasp.”
Middle English
ME
waspe
“A wasp.”
Modern English
English
wasp
“A stinging winged insect with a narrow waist.”