Spider \Spi"der\, n.[OE. spi[thorn]re, fr. AS. spinnan to spin;
-- so named from spinning its web; cf. D. spin a spider, G.
spinne, Sw. spindel. See Spin.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of arachnids
comprising the order Araneina. Spiders have the mandibles
converted into poison fangs, or falcers. The abdomen is
large and not segmented, with two or three pairs of
spinnerets near the end, by means of which they spin
threads of silk to form cocoons, or nests, to protect
their eggs and young. Many species spin also complex webs
to entrap the insects upon which they prey. The eyes are
usually eight in number (rarely six), and are situated on
the back of the cephalothorax. See Illust. under
Araneina.
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Note: Spiders are divided into two principal groups: the
Dipneumona, having two lungs: and the Tetrapneumona,
having four lungs. See Mygale. The former group
includes several tribes; as, the jumping spiders (see
Saltigradae), the wolf spiders, or Citigradae (see
under Wolf), the crab spiders, or Laterigradae (see
under Crab), the garden, or geometric, spiders, or
Orbitellae (see under Geometrical, and Garden),
and others. See Bird spider, under Bird, Grass
spider, under Grass, House spider, under House,
Silk spider, under Silk.
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2. (Zool.) Any one of various other arachnids resembling the
true spiders, especially certain mites, as the red spider
(see under Red).
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3. An iron pan with a long handle, used as a kitchen utensil
in frying food. Originally, it had long legs, and was used
over coals on the hearth.
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4. A trevet to support pans or pots over a fire.
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5. (Mach.) A skeleton, or frame, having radiating arms or
members, often connected by crosspieces; as, a casting
forming the hub and spokes to which the rim of a fly wheel
or large gear is bolted; the body of a piston head; a
frame for strengthening a core or mold for a casting, etc.
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Spider ant. (Zool.) Same as Solitary ant, under
Solitary.
Spider crab (Zool.), any one of numerous species of maioid
crabs having a more or less triangular body and ten long
legs. Some of the species grow to great size, as the great
Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira Kempferi), measuring
sometimes more than fifteen feet across the legs when they
are extended.
Spider fly (Zool.), any one of numerous species of
parasitic dipterous insects of the family Hippoboscidae.
They are mostly destitute of wings, and live among the
feathers of birds and the hair of bats. Called also bird
tick, and bat tick.
Spider hunter (Zool.), any one of several species of East
Indian sunbirds of the genus Arachnothera.
Spider lines, filaments of a spider's web crossing the
field of vision in optical instruments; -- used for
determining the exact position of objects and making
delicate measurements. Fine wires, silk fibers, or lines
on glass similarly placed, are called spider lines.
Spider mite. (Zool.)
(a) Any one of several species of parasitic mites of the
genus Argas and allied genera. See Argas.
(b) Any one of numerous small mites injurious to plants.
Spider monkey (Zool.), any one of numerous species of South
American monkeys of the genus Ateles, having very long
legs and a long prehensile tail.
Spider orchis (Bot.), a European orchidaceous plant
(Ophrys aranifera), having flowers which resemble
spiders.
Spider shell (Zool.), any shell of the genus Pteroceras.
See Pteroceras.
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