tarantula

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”).^[1]

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /təˈɹænt͡ʃələ/

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.

See also

• tarantella
• tarantism

References