Arachnology
/ˌærækˈnɒlədʒi/noun
The scientific study of spiders and related arachnids.
Did you know?The word ultimately invokes Arachne, the legendary Greek weaver whose challenge to Athena ended with her transformation into a spider.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀράχνη (aráchnē)
“Spider; also the name of Arachne, the mythic weaver associated with spiders”
Ancient Greek
Greek
-λογία (-logía)
“Study, account, or branch of knowledge, from λόγος (lógos), meaning word, reason, or discourse”
19th Century
Scientific English
arachnology
“The branch of zoology concerned with spiders and related arachnids”
Modern English
English
arachnology
“The scientific study of spiders and related arachnids”