any large, stinging paper wasp of the family Vespidae, as Vespa crabro(giant hornet), introduced into the U.S. from Europe, or Vespula maculata(bald-faced hornet or white-faced hornet), of North America.
Origin: before 900; Middle English harnete,Old English hyrnet(u); cognate with Old High German hornaz (> German Horniss); akin to horn