From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishhornethor‧net /ˈhɔːnɪt $ ˈhɔːr-/ noun [countable] 1 HBIa large black and yellow flying insect that can sting → wasp2 → hornets’ nest
Examples from the Corpus
hornet• A hornet arrived the following morning, loose-jointed, like a gunslinger.• But what about the bees and hornets?• Grass was growing inside it, and hornets, birds, and spiders were living in the eaves.• Finally, doctors hit the right spot, and the sound of angry hornets filled the operating room.• It was just like you see in the war movies: It sounded like hornets coming over your head.• They turned out to be totally placid; just as well, since they are the size of hornets.Origin hornet Old English hyrnet 