noun · rare

murder hornet

murder hornet · murder hornets

Synonym of Asian giant hornet ^)Synonym of Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) ^((See discussion))

Meaning

1 senses

(informal)Synonym of Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) ^((See discussion))
2020, "Deadly Hornet Massacres a Mouse on Video, They're Huge", TMZ It's unclear if this is, in fact, a murder hornet

Origin

Calque of Japanese 殺人スズメバチ (literally “murder hornet”), from 殺人 (satsujin, “さつじん”)+スズメバチ (

Calque of Japanese 殺人スズメバチ (literally “murder hornet”), from 殺人 (satsujin, “さつじん”)+スズメバチ (suzumebachi, “雀蜂”), equivalent to murder + hornet. From its ability to kill people through its painful venomous stings, which can pierce through most regular beekeeper suits, killing some dozens of people a year in Japan; and its propensity for killing off honeybee colonies.

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