velvet ant


noun

any of several fuzzy, often brightly colored wasps of the family Mutillidae, the wingless, antlike female of which inflicts a severe sting.

Origin of velvet ant

An Americanism dating back to 1740–50

British Dictionary definitions for velvet ant

velvet ant

noun

a solitary digger wasp of the family Mutillidae

Word Origin for velvet ant

C19: so named from the wingless female