■ noun
1》 a social insect with a narrow-waisted, typically black and yellow striped body, which carries a sting and builds elaborate nests from wood pulp. [ Vespula , Polistes , and other genera.]
2》 a hymenopterous insect of a large group resembling the social ~s in appearance and either solitary or parasitic in habits.
Origin
OE wæfs , wæps , wæsp , of W. Gmc origin; perh. related to weave 1 (from the web-like form of its nest).