From Proto-Germanic*wepsō-, from Proto-Indo-European*wobʰseh₂(“wasp”), from *webʰ-(“weave”) (referring to the insect's woven nests). Germanic cognates include Old English wæsp, Dutch wesp, Old High German wefsa (German Wespe), Danish hveps, Norwegian veps/kvefs. The Indo-European root is also the source of Old Breton guohi, Latin vespa (derivations including Italian Vespa, scooter), Lithuanian vapsà, Russian оса(osá). The word is also related to Old Saxon webbi and weƀan.