‖ katipo
(ˈkatipɔː, ˈkætɪpəʊ)
[Maori.]
A large, black, venomous New Zealand spider, Latrodectus katipo, closely related to the Australian jockey spider (jockey n. 9) and the American black widow (black a. 19).
| 1843 E. Dieffenbach Trav. N.Z. II. iii. ix. 366/2 Katipo—a black spider on the seashore, regarded as poisonous. 1852 Mundy Our Antipodes (1857) 178 A bite on the face by a venomous spider called by the natives Katipo. 1870 Chapman in Trans. New Zeal. Inst. II. 82 Proofs of the violently poisonous nature of the bite of the Katipo. 1915 Chamber's Jrnl. May 319/1 The katipo spider..is the Dominion's [sc. New Zealand's] one poisonous creature. 1934 Bulletin (Sydney) 4 July 21/4, I gathered katipo by the dozen on the sandhills at the entrance of the Wanganui. 1942 C. Barrett On the Wallaby ii. 29 The katipo or red-backed spider enjoys a very wide distribution in Australia. 1963 Evening Post (Wellington, N.Z.) 20 Dec., The katipo spider..is black with a red stripe on its back. |