Wasper
In Southern and Appalachian speech, a "wasper" is a wasp. The extra "-er" ending is a common dialect feature in the region, found in words like "feller" (fellow) and "widder" (widow).
#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Animals #Nature #Southern #FarmTalk
synonyms: hornet, yellowjacket, stinger
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've only heard my Dad say 'wasper,' nothin' else. It's a common one down here. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've only heard my Dad say 'wasper,' nothin' else. It's a common one down here. Pronunciation
[WAH-spur] /ˈwɑːspɚ/
Meaning & Usage
- Wasp (noun)
Elmer:
Careful with that woodpile - I seen a wasper fly out of it.
Careful with that woodpile - I seen a wasper fly out of it.variations: wasp
Origin and Etymology
From the standard English word wasp. The form wasper developed in Southern and Appalachian dialects, following a regional pattern of adding an "-er" ending to certain words.
Usage Notes
- Wasper is still commonly heard in rural parts of the South and Appalachia.
- Reflects a wider dialect habit (e.g., "sparrow" → "sparrer," "fellow" → "feller").
- Usually appears in speech, but it’s often spelled wasper in folk writing to reflect pronunciation.