mygale

mygale

See also: Mygale

English

Etymology

Wikispecies Borrowed from Late Latin mygale (“field mouse”) (Vetus Latina), from Ancient Greek μυγαλέη (mugaléē, “shrew”) (used in the Septuagint to translate Hebrew אֲנָקָה‎, now generally thought to indicate a gecko or similar small reptile).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmɪɡəli/

Noun

mygale (plural mygales)

1. (obsolete) A shrew or ferret. [14th–19th]
   • 1635, Holy Bible (Douay), Leviticus II.29–30:

     These also shal be reputed among polluted things, of al that moue vpon the earth, the weesel and the mouse and the crocadile, euerie one according to their kinde, the migale and the camelean […] .

2. Any of the former genus Mygale of large, hairy trapdoor spiders with four lungs and four spinnerets, now distributed in Mygalomorphae. [from 19th c.]
   • 1865, Eneas Sweetland Dallas (ed.), Once A Week, vol. XII:

     The Mygales are the most interesting creatures, and are called Mason spiders because they build their own houses in a very remarkable manner.

Anagrams

• -megaly, gamely, gleamy

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French

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek μυγαλέη (mugaléē).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mi.ɡal/

Noun

mygale f (plural mygales)

1. mygalomorph; tarantula

Further reading

• “mygale”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.