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Webster 1913 Edition

Tarantula

Ta-ran′tu-la

,
Noun.
;
pl. E.
Tarantulas
(#)
, L.
Tarantulae
(#)
.
[NL., fr. It.
tarantola
, fr. L.
Tarentum
, now
Taranto
, in the south of Italy.]
(Zool.)
Any one of several species of large spiders, popularly supposed to be very venomous, especially the European species (
Tarantula apuliae
). The tarantulas of Texas and adjacent countries are large species of Mygale.
[Written also
tarentula
.]
Tarantula killer
,
a very large wasp (
Pompilus formosus
), which captures the Texan tarantula (
Mygale Hentzii
) and places it in its nest as food for its young, after paralyzing it by a sting.

Webster 1828 Edition

Tarantula

TARAN'TULA

,
Noun.
A species of spider, the Aranea tarantula, so called, it is said, from Tarentum in Apulia, where this animal is mostly found; a venomous insect, whose bite gives name to a new disease, called tarantismus. This is said to be cured by music.

Definition 2024

tarantula

tarantula

See also: tarántula and tarântula

English

Noun

tarantula ‎(plural tarantulas or tarantulae)

  1. A species of wolf spider, Lycosa tarantula.
  2. A "true tarantula", consisting of large, hairy spiders comprising the family Theraphosidae.
  3. A member of several other groups of spiders, generally characterized by large size, hairiness, or close relation to family Theraphosidae.

Synonyms

Translations

See also

Etymology

Via Medieval Latin, from Old Italian tarantola, named after Taranto, a seaport in southern Italy; from Latin Tarentum, from Ancient Greek Τάρᾱς ‎(Tárās, “Tarās”); compare Modern Greek: Τάραντας ‎(Tárantas, “Tarantas”) ; Tarantino Tarde; ultimately from Illyrian darandos ‎(“oak”)

A tarantula (Brachypelma smithii)

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /təˌɹænt͡ʃələ/

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