[SPIDER sb.]
1. One who catches spiders. Chiefly fig., and freq. as a vague term of abuse (obs.).
1579. W. Wilkinson, Confut. Fam. Love, Brief Descr. p. iii. Not only in the priuate assemblies … did these spidercatchers swarme together.
1599. Peele, Sir Clyom., vii. 64. Charm, enchant, make a spider-catcher of me, if I be false to you ever.
1620. Bp. Hall, Hon. Mar. Clergie, III. ii. 262–3. He that would doubt whether such an Epistle were written,… may doubt whether Spider-catcher corner-creeper C.E. Pseudo-Catholike Priest, wrote a scurrilous Letter.
1625. Shirley, Love-Tricks, I. i. If I fail, call me spider-catcher.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 21, ¶ 7. Innumerable Retainers to Physick…: Not to mention the Cockleshell-Merchants and Spider-catchers.
b. A monkey (Halliwell, 1847).
2. One or other of certain birds that catch or eat spiders, as: (a) The wall-creeper, Tichodroma muraria. (b) One or other of the East Indian sunbirds belonging to the genus Arachnothera; a spider-hunter. (c) local. (See quot. 1854.)
1668. Charleton, Onomast., 86. Picus Murarius,… the Creeper, or Spider-catcher.
1678. Ray, Willughby’s Ornith., II. vi. § 2. 143. The Wall-creeper, or Spider-catcher. Picus murarius.… It is somewhat bigger than a House-Sparrow.
1764. G. Edwards, Glean. Nat. Hist., III. 320.
1840. trans. Cuvier’s Anim. Kingd., 207. The Spider-catchers (Arachnotheres, Tem.)—Have the same long, arcuated beak, as the Sun-birds.
1854. Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., Spider-catcher, the spotted Fly-catcher or Beam-bird, Muscicapa grisola.
† 3. (See quot.) Obs.–0
1699. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Spider-catcher, a Spindle for a Man.
