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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Anything that gives acute pain, bodily or mental; as, the stings of remorse; the stings of reproach. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sting of death is sin. 1 Cor. xv. 56. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A goad; incitement. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The point of an epigram or other sarcastic saying. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]