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Yes, the word wasp is the result of historical metathesis. The original Old English form was roughly pronounced waps. The metathesis came about as a result of it being easier to swap the p and s. Switching the order to the modern pronunciation results in the sound forming processes and subsequent air column moving consistently from the back of the mouth to the front (the s and p being produced at the teeth and the lips respectively) which is easier to say rapidly than the reverse order.

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17y ago

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