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
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for banana spider
The first known use of banana spider was in 1897
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