tarantula

1. (by extension) A member of certain other groups of spiders, generally characterized by large size, hairiness, or membership of infraorder Mygalomorphae to which Theraphosidae family also belongs.Examples: "The small funnel-web tarantulas are sedentary but notable for their aggressiveness and the strong action of their venom on human beings. A. robustus and formidabilis have caused human deaths."; "tergites: dorsal sclerites on the body; the hard plates on the abdomen of the atypical tarantulas that indicate segmentation"; "The name "tarantula" is also mistakenly applied to other large-bodied spiders, and the "dwarf tarantulas". Both are classified in different families. Huntsman spiders of the family have also been termed "tarantulas" because of their large size."broadly

2. (dated) A species of wolf spider, Lycosa tarantula, native to southern Europe, the mildly poisonous bite of which was once thought to cause an extreme urge to dance (tarantism).Examples: "[I]t is better to be pained with the ſting of a Snake, and recouer, then be tickled with the venime of Tarantula and dye laughing: [...]"; "Many men catch this malady [i.e., melancholy] by [...] ſtinging with that kind of ſpider called Tarantula; [...] Their ſymptomes are merrily deſcribed by Iovianus Pontanus. Ant. dial. how they daunce alogether, and are cured by Muſick."; "A Tarantula is a venemous Spider, ſo call'd from Tarentum, an ancient City of Magna Gracia, upon the Ionian Sea. Thoſe who are once bit by it, are never quite cur'd of the Venom; for it revives every Year, and occaſions a long Series of Evils, which would be very annoying to the Patients, if they did not take due Care of their Health by Dancing and Balls."dated