Drone

Drone Drone, n. [OE. drane a dronebee, AS. dr[=a]n; akin to OS. dr[=a]n, OHG. treno, G. drohne, Dan. drone, cf. Gr. ? a kind of wasp, dial. Gr. ? drone. Prob. named fr. the droning sound. See {Drone}, v. i.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) The male of bees, esp. of the honeybee. It gathers no honey. See {Honeybee}. [1913 Webster]

All with united force combine to drive The lazy drones from the laborious hive. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

2. One who lives on the labors of others; a lazy, idle fellow; a sluggard. [1913 Webster]

By living as a drone,to be an unprofitable and unworthy member of so noble and learned a society. -- Burton. [1913 Webster]

3. That which gives out a grave or monotonous tone or dull sound; as: (a) A drum. [Obs.] Halliwell. (b) The part of the bagpipe containing the two lowest tubes, which always sound the key note and the fifth. [1913 Webster]

4. A humming or deep murmuring sound. [1913 Webster]

The monotonous drone of the wheel. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster]

5. (Mus.) A monotonous bass, as in a pastoral composition. [1913 Webster]