Old English hyrnet, hurnitu "large wasp, beetle," probably from Proto-Germanic *hurz-nut- (cognates: Old Saxon hornut, Middle Dutch huersel, Dutch horzel, Old High German hornaz, German Hornisse "hornet"), from PIE imitative (buzzing) root *krs-, as preserved in Old Church Slavonic srusa, Lithuanian szirszu "wasp." On this theory, the English word (as well as German Hornisse) was altered by influence of horn, to suggest either "horner" (from the sting) or "horn-blower" (from the buzz). Compare also Old Saxon hornobero "hornet," literally "trumpeter."
雙語例句
1. His criticisms of the president stirred up a hornet's nest.
他對董事長的批評造成眾憤難平.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》
2. A hornet stung me on the cheek.
一只大黃蜂叮了我的臉頰.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》
3. His letter to the newspaper about racialism in schools has stirred up a real hornet's nest.