The word hornet traces to Proto-Indo-European and may share a root with horn — perhaps naming the insect for its prominent antennae.
A large wasp, typically with a brown and yellow striped body, known for its powerful sting.
From Old English hyrnet, from Proto-Germanic *hurznuta or *hurznatjō, related to Proto-Indo-European *ḱr̥h₂s-n- (hornet), from a root possibly meaning horn (referring to the insect's horn-like antennae or the buzzing sound it makes). Key roots: *ḱr̥h₂s-n- (Proto-Indo-European: "hornet"), *ḱerh₂- (Proto-Indo-European: "horn, head (possibly related)").
The phrase "stir up a hornet's nest" dates to at least the 18th century and refers to the genuine danger of disturbing a hornet colony. Unlike honeybees, which die after stinging, hornets can sting repeatedly. The European hornet (Vespa crabro) was accidentally introduced to North America around 1840, while the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia), nicknamed the "murder hornet," made headlines when it appeared in the Pacific Northwest in 2019. The word