horntail

noun

horn·​tail ˈhȯrn-ˌtāl How to pronounce horntail (audio)
: any of various hymenopterous insects (family Siricidae) related to the typical sawflies but having females with a stout hornlike ovipositor and larvae that burrow in woody plants

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web More than 6,000 horntail snails have been plucked from the ground in South Florida, in what the state agriculture department describes as a successful campaign to eliminate the non-native pest from commercial nurseries. David Fleshler, sun-sentinel.com, 6 Jan. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'horntail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of horntail was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near horntail

Cite this Entry

“Horntail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horntail. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.

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