GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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Found 2 definitions
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Sting (?), n. [AS. sting a sting. See Sting, v. t.]
1. (Zool.) Any sharp organ of offense and defense, especially when connected with a poison gland, and adapted to inflict a wound by piercing; as the caudal sting of a scorpion. The sting of a bee or wasp is a modified ovipositor. The caudal sting, or spine, of a sting ray is a modified dorsal fin ray. The term is sometimes applied to the fang of a serpent. See Illust. of Scorpion.
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2. (Bot.) A sharp-pointed hollow hair seated on a gland which secrets an acrid fluid, as in nettles. The points of these hairs usually break off in the wound, and the acrid fluid is pressed into it.
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3. Anything that gives acute pain, bodily or mental; as, “the stings of remorse; the stings of reproach.”
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The sting of death is sin. 1 Cor. xv. 56.
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4. The thrust of a sting into the flesh; the act of stinging; a wound inflicted by stinging. “The lurking serpent's mortal sting.” Shak.
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5. A goad; incitement. Shak.
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6. The point of an epigram or other sarcastic saying.
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Sting moth (Zool.), an Australian moth (Doratifera vulnerans) whose larva is armed, at each end of the body, with four tubercles bearing powerful stinging organs. -- Sting ray. (Zool.) See under 6th Ray. -- Sting winkle (Zool.), a spinose marine univalve shell of the genus Murex, as the European species (Murex erinaceus). See Illust. of Murex.
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Sting, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stung (?) (Archaic Stang ()); p. pr. & vb. n. Stinging.] [AS. stingan; akin to Icel. & Sw. stinga, Dan. stinge, and probably to E. stick, v.t.; cf. Goth. usstiggan to put out, pluck out. Cf. Stick, v. t.]
1. To pierce or wound with a sting; as, “bees will sting an animal that irritates them; the nettles stung his hands.”
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2. To pain acutely; as, “the conscience is stung with remorse”; to bite. “Slander stings the brave.” Pope.
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3. To goad; to incite, as by taunts or reproaches.
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