An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Weisel

by Friedrich Kluge

Weisel, m., ‘queen bee,’ from the equiv. MidHG. wîsel, m., lit. ‘leader, guide.’ Allied to weisen, vb., ‘to show, direct, point,’ from MidHG. wîsen wk. (str.) vb., OHG. wîsen (from *wîsjan), wk. vb., ‘to show, direct, instruct’; a derivative of weise (hence lit. ‘to make wise’).