Definition of tarantula

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< Taranto

Tarascan >

ta·ran·tu·la    (t-rnch-l) KEY  

NOUN:
pl. ta·ran·tu·las or tarantu·lae   (-l) KEY  

1. Any of various large, hairy, chiefly tropical spiders of the family Theraphosidae, capable of inflicting a painful but not seriously poisonous bite.
2. A large wolf spider (Lycosa tarentula) of southern Europe, once thought to cause tarantism.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Medieval Latin, from Old Italian tarantola, after Taranto

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