spider \spi"der\, n.oe. spithornre, 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.
      1913 webster

   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.
         1913 webster

   2. zool. any one of various other arachnids resembling the
      true spiders, especially certain mites, as the red spider
      see under red.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

   4. a trevet to support pans or pots over a fire.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster
see also:
spin araneina mygale saltigradae citigradae wolf 
laterigradae crab orbitellae geometrical garden 
bird spider bird grass spider grass house spider 
house silk spider silk red spider ant 
solitary ant solitary spider crab macrocheira kempferi spider fly 
hippoboscidae bird tick bat tick spider hunter arachnothera 
spider lines spider mite argas spider monkey ateles 
spider orchis ophrys aranifera spider shell pteroceras 

bat \bat\, n. corrupt. from oe. back, backe, balke; cf. dan.
   aften-bakke aften evening, sw. natt-backa natt night,
   icel. leethr-blaka leethr leather, icel. blaka to
   flutter. zool.
   one of the chiroptera, an order of flying mammals, in which
   the wings are formed by a membrane stretched between the
   elongated fingers, legs, and tail. the common bats are small
   and insectivorous. see chiroptera and vampire.
   1913 webster

         silent bats in drowsy clusters cling.    --goldsmith.
   1913 webster

   bat tick zool., a wingless, dipterous insect of the genus
      nycteribia, parasitic on bats.
      1913 webster
see also:
chiroptera vampire bat tick nycteribia