The word 一窝蜂 is formed by directly combining the character 一 (meaning "one"), 窝 (meaning "nest"), and 蜂 (meaning "bee") to create a literal phrase translating to "one nest of bees". This compound then functions as an idiomatic expression, where the literal image of a bee swarm is applied metaphorically to describe people acting in a disorderly, crowded mass.