English

green hornet

From green + hornet.

A compound of green + hornet

Proto-Indo-European *gʰreh₁- ‘to grow’

…

Proto-Germanic *grōniz

Proto-West Germanic *grōnī

Old English grēne

Middle English grene

English green

Proto-Indo-European *ḱerh₂- ‘horn’

…

Proto-Germanic *hurznutō

Proto-West Germanic *hurnutu

Old English hyrnetu

Middle English hernet

Today it means

noun Bylaw officer.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / green hornet