A stinger (or more correctly, sting) is a common term for a sharp organ or boy part found in various animals (typically arthropods) or plants that usually delivers some kind of venom (usually piercing the skin of another animal) or an electric shock. A poisonous sting differs from other piercing organs in that it pierces by its own action, as opposed to teeth, which pierce by the force of jaws, or thorns, which pierce by the action of the victim.