Hornet

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Hornet \Hor"net\, n. [AS. hyrnet; akin to OHG. hornaz, hornuz,
     G. horniss; perh. akin to E. horn, and named from the sound
     it makes as if blowing the horn; but more prob. akin to D.
     horzel, Lith. szirszone, L. crabo.] (Zool.)
     A large, strong wasp. The European species ({Vespa crabro})
     is of a dark brown and yellow color. It is very pugnacious,


     and its sting is very severe. Its nest is constructed of a
     paperlike material, and the layers of comb are hung together
     by columns. The American white-faced hornet ({Vespa
     maculata}) is larger and has similar habits.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {Hornet fly} (Zool.), any dipterous insect of the genus
        {Asilus}, and allied genera, of which there are numerous
        species. They are large and fierce flies which capture
        bees and other insects, often larger than themselves, and
        suck their blood. Called also {hawk fly}, {robber fly}.
  
     {To stir up a hornet's nest}, to provoke the attack of a
        swarm of spiteful enemies or spirited critics. [Colloq.]
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  hornet
       n : large stinging paper wasp

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Hornet
     Heb. tsir'ah, "stinging", (Ex. 23:28; Deut. 7:20; Josh. 24:12).
     The word is used in these passages as referring to some means by
     which the Canaanites were to be driven out from before the
     Israelites. Some have supposed that the word is used in a
     metaphorical sense as the symbol of some panic which would seize
     the people as a "terror of God" (Gen. 35:5), the consternation
     with which God would inspire the Canaanites. In Palestine there
     are four species of hornets, differing from our hornets, being
     larger in size, and they are very abundant. They "attack human
     beings in a very furious manner." "The furious attack of a swarm
     of hornets drives cattle and horses to madness, and has even
     caused the death of the animals."