‖ Solpuga
(sɒlˈpjuːgə)
Also 8 Sal-.
[L. solpūga (salpūga), also solipūga, solifūga: cf. solifuge.]
1. A venomous ant or spider mentioned by classical authors.
| 1601 Holland Pliny viii. xxix. 212 In æthyopia..there is a great countrey..dispeopled sometime by Scorpions, and a Kind of Pismires called Solpugae. 1627 May Lucan ix. 954 Who, small Solpuga, from thy hole would flee? Yet the three sisters giue their power to thee. 1718 Rowe tr. Lucan ix. 1418 Or cou'd we the Salpuga's anger dread? |
2. Ent. A genus of tropical or semi-tropical spiders (belonging to the group Solpugidæ or Solifugæ); a weasel-spider.
| 1815 Kirby & Sp. Entomol. iv. (1818) I. 126 The bite of one of the centipedes..is less tremendous than that of the Solpuga. 1835 Kirby Habits & Inst. Anim. II. xvi. 86 It seems, therefore, almost certain that the ancient and modern Solpuga are synonymous. |