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."
例文
1. His criticisms of the president stirred up a hornet 's nest.
彼の会長批判に憤慨している。
2.A hornet stung me on the cheek.
大きなスズメバチが私の頬を刺した。
3.His letter to the newspaper about racialism in schools has stirred up a real hornet 's nest.
彼が新聞に書いた学校における人種差別現象に関する手紙は大きなトラブルを引き起こした。
4.The principal stirred up a hornet 's nest by changing the school rules.
校長が校則を改正し、教師と生徒の公憤を引き起こした。
5.Bruce Lee acted in an American television series called The Green Hornet .