An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Weisel
Weisel, m., ‘queen bee,’ from the equiv. MidHG. wîsel, m., lit. ‘leader, guide.’ Allied to weisen, vb., ‘to show, direct, point,’ from MidHG. wîsen wk. (str.) vb., OHG. wîsen (from *wîsjan), wk. vb., ‘to show, direct, instruct’; a derivative of weise (hence lit. ‘to make wise’).