plural yellow jackets
Definition of yellow jacket
1
or yellowjacket \
ˈye-lō-ˌja-kət
, ˈye-lə-
\ plural yellowjackets
: any of various small vespid wasps (genus Vespula and Dolichovespula) typically with abdomens marked with yellow and black that build nests in the ground or less commonly in aerial locations (such as the eaves of buildings), that usually reach a length of up to .5 inches (1.3 centimeters), and that can sting repeatedly and painfully
2
slang
: pentobarbital especially in a yellow capsule
—usually used in plural
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for yellow jacket
The first known use of yellow jacket was in 1796
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