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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Tarantula \Ta*ran"tu*la\, n.; pl. E. {Tarantulas}, L.
{Tarantulae}. [NL., fr. It. tarantola, fr. L. Tarentum, now
Taranto, in the south of Italy.] (Zool.)
Any one of several species of large spiders, popularly
supposed to be very venomous, especially the European species
({Tarantula apuliae}). The tarantulas of Texas and adjacent
countries are large species of Mygale. [Written also
{tarentula}.]
[1913 Webster]

{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.
[1913 Webster]