tarantula
Pronunciation: /təˈrantjʊlə/
Definition of tarantula
noun
- 1a very large hairy spider found chiefly in tropical and subtropical America, some kinds of which are able to catch small lizards, frogs, and birds. Also called bird-eating spider.
- Family Theraphosidae, suborder Mygalomorphae
Origin:
mid 16th century: from medieval Latin, from Old Italian tarantola 'tarantula', from the name of the seaport Taranto. Compare with tarantella and tarantism
