banana spider

noun

Definition of banana spider

1 : huntsman spider sense 2 … the spider—also known as a banana spider because it is sometimes found in boxes of bananas, or a giant crab spider—may strike fear into the hearts of some people, but is harmless to humans.— Angela Taylor and Mark Drever, Aberdeen (Scotland) Press and Journal, 21 Mar. 2003

2 : tarantula sense 2 Tarantulas once were called banana spiders because they were often found in shipments of fruit.— Sally Bank, Calgary Herald, 30 Dec. 1995

3 : golden silk spider Golden silk spiders are named for their golden web, but are also called banana spiders because their body is long, thin and the top side is yellow. — Lee Belanger, News-Press (Fort Myers, Florida), 25 Mar. 2006

4 : brazilian wandering spider Brazilian wandering spiders have been given the nickname the banana spider as they are occasionally discovered as stowaways within banana shipments.— Matt Goerzen, Winnipeg Free Press, 8 May 2009