polistes

noun

pol·​is·​tes

pōˈliˌstēz

1

capitalized : an extensive genus of social wasps that have a spindle-shaped abdomen and wings which fold like a fan, are mostly black with yellow or brown markings, and make nests consisting of a single comb of papery material suspended by a peduncle and having no envelope

2

plural polistes : any wasp of the genus Polistes

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek polistēs founder of a city, from polizein to build a city, from polis city + -izein -ize

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