the word "waspish" is a straightforward english compound, formed by appending the productive adjectival suffix "-ish" to the noun "wasp." the noun "wasp" itself has deep germanic roots, descending from proto-germanic wabis- and ultimately from the proto-indo-european root (w)obhseh₂-, meaning "weaver," a reference to the insect's nest-building habits. the modern figurative sense, which emerged in the 16th century, logically transfers the wasp's perceived irritable nature and sharp sting to human temperament and speech. thus, the literal "of or like a wasp" evolved into the abstract meaning of being snappish or petulant.

Structure: wasp (stinging insect) + ish (adjective-forming suffix) wasp (from old english wæps, wæsp, meaning a stinging insect of the family vespidae). ish (from old english -isc, a suffix forming adjectives meaning "having the qualities of" or "belonging to").