Middle English Dictionary Entry
wasp n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wasp n. Also waspe, waps, wappes, (in surname) weps; pl. waspes, waspus, wespez. |
| Etymology | OE wæps, wæsp, weaps; also cp. OF (chiefly AF or ONF) waspe, wespe, vars. of OF guespe. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An insect of one of the superfamilies Vespoidea and Sphecoidea, esp. a member of the genus Vespa, a wasp or hornet; also in fig. context; ~ been, ?waspish, aggressive bees; waspe(s nest;
(b) in prov. expressions and conventional comparisons;
(c) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pri.(Manly-Rickert)B.1749 : Sathanas…hath in Iewes herte his waspes nest.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)272a/a : Somme beþ tame been…and some beþ longe as waspes [L vespe].
- a1400 Westm-A 34/11 Vocab.(Westm-A 34/11)15 : Vespa: un wespe; a waspe.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)58a/b : Scabio: a wasp [Cnt: Scabro, vespa: a waps].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)69a/a : Vespula: a lytel wappes.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)46b : Stampe hit and a-noynte þe ther wiþ and hit helpiþ for waspis bitynge, for ben, for attercoppis.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)123a/b : Recipe…sanguisugarum, i. waterlechez…& vesparum, i. wespez… put hem in a vessel yglassed.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)251 : Þe pope…his visage touched…Þe waspys wenten away.
- c1450 Siege Jerus.(1) (Add 31042)32 : Waspe bees [vr. waspis & bees; Ld: his fader…is ferly bytide, A biker of waspen bees bredde on his nose].
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)136a : A Waspenest: vesperium, vespetum.
- a1500 Siege Jerus.(2) (Brog 2.1)73/98 : He had waspus in his nos, and þerfor men callyd hyme Waspassyon.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)648 : Þer is no waspe in þis werlde þat will wilfullok[e]r styngen, For stappyng on a too of a styncande frere!
b
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)738 : Is ser Nicollas anoyed & nettild with ire, As wrath as [a] waspe & wode of his mynde.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3011 : Full many flees may fell bot a fewe waspis [Dub: wasspez].
- a1475 Libel EP (Hrl 4011:Hammond)p.249 : Thei…sowketh the thrifte out of our hond As the waspe sowketh hony of the be.
- c1475 Five Puzzles (Brm)12 : Take iij schrewys…a waspe…a wesill…a woman.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)141/7 : Then had þis Vaspasyan such a maledy…þat out of hys naseþurles droppyd wormys out lyke waspes.
- a1500 Þer wer iij (BodPoet e.1)p.239 : Ther wer 3 angry; 3 angry ther wer: A wasp, a wesyll, and a woman.
c
- (1199) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.1058 : Ricardus Weps.
- (1202-16) Chart.St.Paul in RHS ser.3.5881 : Willelmo Waps.
- (1203) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames372 : Richard Wasp.
- (1262-3) Feet Fines Sus.in Sus.RS 748 : Walterum le Wasp.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1047 : Rogo le Waps.
- (1332) Name in LuSE 7837 : Wasp.