Alternative form of hornets' nest

Synonym of Russian doll

A natural or artificial egg placed in a bird's nest, to encourage the bird to lay its own eggs there. / (figuratively) A saving; a reserve of money. / An egg squash.

(nautical) A small open-top shelter, originally a cask, on the top of the foremast, large enough to accommodate a lookout. It was used by whalers to watch for a blow (spout), or in icebound waters to seek a channel.

(US, archaic, informal, idiomatic) A state of chaos and confusion.

To fit together snugly; to be part of a compact unit.

(UK, Australia) The, formerly common, hobby of looking for birds' nests, often with the intention of collecting the eggs.

plural of hornets' nest

(literally) A hornets' nest. / (figuratively) An unpleasant or controversial situation likely to be exacerbated by outside involvement.

A great discovery which turns out to be illusory; a hoax. / A confused or complicated situation; a muddle.