honeybee or hon·ey bee [huhn-ee-bee] ExamplesWord Origin noun
Origin of honeybee First recorded in 1560–70; honey + bee1 Examples from the Web for honey-bee Historical Examples of honey-bee
On this account the honey-bee is called white man’s fly by the Indians.
Harper’s Young People, October 5, 1880
Various
But neither cup nor mug will pass, Without his honey-bee, sir!
James Fenimore Cooper
The sweetest smelling flower is that which is nearest—so sings the honey-bee.
Mayne Reid
The pain inflicted is about the same as that caused by the sting of the honey-bee.
Lippincott’s Magazine, Vol. 22, November, 1878
Various
But as Honey-Bee made hers very badly, George struck her fingers with his spade.
Anatole France
British Dictionary definitions for honey-bee honeybee noun
- any of various social honey-producing bees of the genus Apis, esp A. mellifera, which has been widely domesticated as a source of honey and beeswaxAlso called: hive bee
Word Origin and History for honey-bee n.