Spi"der (?), n.[OE. spiþre,
fr. AS. spinnan to spin; -- so named from spinning its web; cf.
D. spin a spider, G. spinne, Sw. spindel. Seee
Spin.] 1. (Zoöl.) 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.
&fist; 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 Saltigradæ), the wolf
spiders, or Citigradæ (see under Wolf), the crab
spiders, or Laterigradæ (see under Crab), the
garden, or geometric, spiders, or Orbitellæ (see under
Geometrical, and Garden), and others. See Bird
spider, under Bird, Grass spider, under
Grass, House spider, under House, Silk
spider, under Silk.
2. (Zoöl.) Any one of various
other arachnids resembling the true spiders, especially certain mites,
as the red spider (see under Red).
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.
4. A trevet to support pans or pots over a
fire.
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.
Spider ant. (Zoöl.) Same as
Solitary ant, under Solitary. -- Spider
crab (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), any one of
numerous species of parasitic dipterous insects of the family
Hippoboscidæ. 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 (Zoöl.), 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. (Zoöl.) (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 (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), any shell
of the genus Pteroceras. See Pteroceras.
Spi"der (?), n.[OE. spiþre,
fr. AS. spinnan to spin; -- so named from spinning its web; cf.
D. spin a spider, G. spinne, Sw. spindel. Seee
Spin.] 1. (Zoöl.) 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.
&fist; 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 Saltigradæ), the wolf
spiders, or Citigradæ (see under Wolf), the crab
spiders, or Laterigradæ (see under Crab), the
garden, or geometric, spiders, or Orbitellæ (see under
Geometrical, and Garden), and others. See Bird
spider, under Bird, Grass spider, under
Grass, House spider, under House, Silk
spider, under Silk.
2. (Zoöl.) Any one of various
other arachnids resembling the true spiders, especially certain mites,
as the red spider (see under Red).
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.
4. A trevet to support pans or pots over a
fire.
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.
Spider ant. (Zoöl.) Same as
Solitary ant, under Solitary. -- Spider
crab (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), any one of
numerous species of parasitic dipterous insects of the family
Hippoboscidæ. 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 (Zoöl.), 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. (Zoöl.) (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 (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), any shell
of the genus Pteroceras. See Pteroceras.
