Hornet

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈhɔː.nɪt/
• US IPA: /ˈhɔɹ.nɪt/
• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)nɪt

Origin

Middle English hernet, from Old English hyrnetu, hyrnete, from Proto-Germanic *hurznutō (compare German Hornisse), alteration of Proto-Germanic *hurzulǭ (compare Dutch horzel), from Proto-Indo-European *k̑érh₂sr- (compare Welsh creyryn 'wasp', Latin crābrō 'hornet', Lithuanian širšė 'wasp', Old Church Slavonic сръшень 'hornet', Albanian grerë, grenzë 'wasp, hornet').

Full definition of hornet

Noun

1. A large wasp, of the genus Vespa, with a brown and yellow striped body and capable of inflicting a serious sting.

Anagrams

• nother, Thorne, throne