I. ˈwäsp, ˈwȯsp noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English waspe, from Old English wæps, wæfs, wæsp; akin to Old High German wafsa, wefsa wasp, Lithuanian vapsa gadfly, Latin vespa wasp, Old English wefan to weave — more at weave
1.
a. : any of numerous winged hymenopterous insects that generally have a slender smooth body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk, well-developed wings, biting mouthparts, and in the females and workers a more or less formidable sting, that belong to many different families and include forms of social as well as of solitary habits, and that are largely carnivorous and often provision their nests with caterpillars, insects, or spiders killed or paralyzed by stinging for their larvae to feed on — compare sphecoidea , vespoidea ; digger wasp , hornet , yellow jacket ; bee
b. : any of various hymenopterous insects (as a chalcid fly or ichneumon fly) having larvae that are parasitic especially on other insect larvae
2.
a. : a waspish person
b. : something that stings or infuriates
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II. noun
( -s )
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: W omen's A ir Force S ervice P ilots
: a member of the Women's Air Force Service Pilots of the United States Army air forces disbanded in December 1944
III. ˈwäsp, ˈwȯsp noun
( -s -s -es -er/-est )
Usage: usually capitalized W or WASP, often attributive
Etymology: w hite A nglo- S axon P rotestant
: an American of northern European and especially British stock and of Protestant background ; especially : a member of the dominant and most privileged class of people in the United States
• wasp·dom -spdəm noun usually capitalized W or WASP
• wasp·ish -spə̇sh adjective , usually capitalized W or WASP
• wasp·ish·ness -spəshnə̇s noun usually capitalized W or WASP
• waspy -spē, -spi adjective usually capitalized W or WASP