Etymology From Middle English dorre, dore, from Old English dora (“humming insect”), from Proto-West Germanic *dorō, from Proto-Germanic *durô (“bumblebee, humming insect”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰer-, *dʰreh₁n- (“bee, hornet, drone”). Related to Saterland Frisian Doarne (“hornet”), Middle Low German dorne (“bumblebee”), Middle Dutch dorne (“bumblebee”), Dutch dar (“drone”), Old English drān (“drone”). More at drone.
1
Any of species Geotrupes stercorarius of large European dung beetles that make a droning noise while flying.
2
Any flying insect which makes a loud humming noise, such as the June bug or a bumblebee.
To say you were impotent! I am ashamed on 't! To make yourself no man? to a fresh maid too, A longing maid? upon her wedding-night also, To give her such a dor?1624 June 6 (licensing date; Gregorian calendar), John Fletcher, “A Wife for a Moneth”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):