king bee

noun

, South Midland and Southern U.S.

1. a self-important person.

Word History and Origins

Origin of king bee¹

1890–95, Americanism; on the model of queen bee

Example Sentences

He's the king bee of all the Rebels in these heah parts, an' they think he kin 'bout make the sun stand still ef he wants ter.

From Project Gutenberg

And then there ain't such a thing as a king bee anyhow—queens, drones and workers make up a colony.

From Project Gutenberg

I wanted to win rank in the army—and I did; I ranked everybody as the king-bee of insubordination.

From Project Gutenberg