Wasp (Noun)
Meaning 1
Social or solitary hymenopterans typically having a slender body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk and having a formidable sting.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 2
A white person of Anglo-Saxon ancestry who belongs to a Protestant denomination.
Classification
Nouns denoting people.
Examples
- The term was initially used to describe the white English-speaking majority but took on another meaning in the mid-20th century to refer to the specific subset of Anglo-Saxon Protestants.
- The most prominent example of a wasp is often considered to be an Episcopalian from a high-society background.
- Attending an Ivy League university is stereotypically seen as a characteristic of a wasp.
- Their cultural practices often reflect traditional Episcopalian customs and an upper-class upbringing associated with wasps.
- Preppy clothing often incorporates elements associated with the stereotypical wasp lifestyle and aesthetic.