hive bee

hive bee (plural hive bees)

1. The common honey bee.
   • 1819, Abraham Rees, The Cyclopaedia:

     Palpi exteriores are organs noticed in the rude sketch of the proboscis of the hive bee by Swammerdam, who does not, however, speak of them.

   • 1951, The Ibis, volume 93, page 505:

     This unavian behaviour, which recalls that of the hive-bee in winter, is evidently an adaptation to conserve heat.

• Beehive, bee-hive, beehive