large southern European spider once thought to be the cause of tarantism (uncontrollable bodily movement)
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large hairy tropical spider with fangs that can inflict painful but not highly venomous bites
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Tarantula \Ta*ran"tu*la\, n.; pl. E. {Tarantulas}, L. {Tarantul[ae]}. [NL., fr. It. tarantola, fr. L. Tarentum, now Taranto, in the south of Italy.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of large spiders, popularly supposed to be very venomous, especially the European species ({Tarantula apuli[ae]}). The tarantulas of Texas and adjacent countries are large species of Mygale. [Written also {tarentula}.]
{Tarantula killer}, a very large wasp ({Pompilus formosus}), which captures the Texan tarantula ({Mygale Hentzii}) and places it in its nest as food for its young, after paralyzing it by a sting.