yellow jacket

yellow jacket

noun

{bc}any of various small {d_link|vespid|vespid} wasps (genus {it}Vespula{/it} and {it}Dolichovespula{/it}) 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