hor ‧ net /ˈhɔːnət, ˈhɔːnɪt $ ˈhɔːr-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: hyrnet ]
1 . a large black and yellow flying insect that can sting ⇨ wasp
2 . hornets’ nest a situation in which there is a lot of trouble and quarrelling:
The new production targets have stirred up a hornets' nest.