avispa

Spanish

avispa

Alternative forms

• abispa (obsolete)

Etymology

From Old Spanish biespa, from Latin vespa, from Proto-Indo-European *wobʰseh₂ (“wasp”), from *webʰ- (“to weave”). Influenced by abeja (“bee”). Doublet of vespa.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aˈbispa/, [aˈβispa]

• Audio (Spain)

  (file)

Noun

avispa f (plural avispas)

1. wasp (any of many types of stinging flying insect resembling a hornet)
   • [1591, Richard Percyuall, Bibliotheca Hispanica. Containg a Grammar, with a Dictionaire in Spanish, English, and Latine, gathered out of diuers good Authors: very profitable for the studious of the Spanish toong, London: Iohn Iackson:

     Abiſpa,a waſpe,Veſpa.

     (please add an English translation of this quote)]

2. crafty person; one who angers easily

Derived terms

• avispar
• avispero
• avispilla
• avispón
• cintura de avispa

 

Further reading

• “avispa” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.