tarantula
ta·ran·tu·la
noun\tə-ˈran-chə-lə, -tə-lə; -ˈranch-lə, -ˈrant-\
plural ta·ran·tu·las also ta·ran·tu·lae\-ˌlē\
Definition of TARANTULA
1
: a European wolf spider (Lycosa tarentula) popularly held to be the cause of tarantism
2
: any of a family (Theraphosidae) of large hairy American spiders that are typically rather sluggish and capable of biting sharply though most forms are not significantly poisonous to humans
See Origin of TARANTULA
Medieval Latin, from Old Italian tarantola, from Taranto
First Known Use: 1561
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