wasp (wosp), n.

1. any of numerous social or solitary hymenopterous insects of the Vespidae, Sphecidae, and allied families, generally having a long, slender body and narrow waist and, in the female, a stinger (See picture).

2. a person who is snappish or petulant.

[bef. 900; ME waspe, OE wæsp, metathetic var. of WæPS, itself var. of WæFS, akin to D wesp, G Wespe, L vespa]

—wasplike, adj.

WASP (wosp), Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive.

1. a white Anglo-Saxon Protestant.

2. a member of the privileged, established white upper middle class in the U.S.

–adj.

3. Waspy.

WASP (wosp), n.

a member of the Women's Air Force Service Pilots, an organization disbanded in 1944. (Random House Webster's Unabridged)