wasp

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wasp OE. wæsp, wæps, wæfs, corr. to OS. wepsia, wespa, wasp, OHG. wafsa, wefsa (G. wespe), MLG. wepse, wespe, wispe :- WGmc. *wab̄is-, *waps- :- IE. *wobhes-, *wops-, whence OSl. (Russ.) osa, Lith. vapsvà, OBret. guohi, Corn. guhien, L. vespa (:- *wopsā), usu. taken to be f. *webh- wobh- WEAVE1, with ref. to the weblike construction of the insect's nest.
Hence waspish XVI.

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