apis.

Uncertain. Traditionally hypothesized as from Proto-Indo-European *e/a(m)p-i- (“stinging insect; bee”), related to Ancient Greek ἐμπίς (empís, “stinging or biting insect”), German Imme (“bee; swarm of bees”), and Old English imbe (“swarm of bees”). However, it has characteristics of a European substrate word. Any connection with Proto-Indo-European *bʰey- (whence fūcus (“drone”)) is phonetically impossible. According to Vennemann’s Atlantic substrate theory, the ultimate source may be a Semitic word cognate with Egyptian ꜥfj (“bee”), though no attested Semitic cognates survive. De Vaan finds this plausible. Another hypothesis suggests an Osco-Umbrian loan from an original *akuis (“sharp, stinging”), as the Osco-Umbrian reflex of the Proto-Indo-European labiovelar */kʷ/ that gives Latin ⟨qu⟩ is regularly /p/; compare aqui- (“sharp”) in aquifolius and aquilinus.