Etymology Dictionary

WASP,  a stinging insect.  (E.)   M.E. waspe, P. Plowman's Crede, l. 648.   Cf. prov. E. waps, wops.—A.S. wæps.   'Vespa, wæps;' Wright's Voc. i. 23, col. 2.   In a very old A.S. glossary of the 8th century, we find:  'Vespas, uuæfsas;' Wright's Voc. ii. 123, col. 1. + O.H.G. wefsá, wafsá; G. wespe. + Lat. uespa. + Lithuan. wapsà, a gad-fly, horse-fly, stinging fly. + Russ. osa, a wasp.   β. All from an Aryan form WAPSA, Fick, i. 769; the true E. form is waps, but it has become wasp under the influence of the Lat. uespa, which is really a modified form, for ease in pronunciation.   γ. To suppose WAP-SA to mean 'weaver,' which is what Fick suggests, is surely nonsense; esp. as the root of 'weave' is not WAP, but WABH.   δ. It more likely means 'stinger,' from a root WAP, to sting, now lost, unless we may adduce E. wap, to stike.   ¶ I cannot believe it to be connected with Gk. σφήξ; rather, the Gk. σφήξ is the same as Gael. speach, a wasp, a venomous creature, also a sting; cf. Gael. speach, a thrust, blow, speachair, one who strikes, a waspish fellow, Irish speach, a kick.   Der. wasp-ish, As You Like It, iv. 3. 9; wasp-ish-ly, -ness.