Zoology. A spider of the New World genus Mygale (family Theraphosidae); any mygalomorph spider.
Valid publication of the genus name: P. A. Latreille Buffon's Hist. Nat.: Crustacés et Insectes (1802) III. 49..
Origin
Late Middle English (in an earlier sense). From post-classical Latin mygale (Vetus Latina; already in classical Latin (Columella) as a Greek loanword) from ancient Greek μυγαλῆ (uncontracted μυγαλέη) shrew from μυ-, combining form of μῦς rat, mouse + γαλῆ (uncontracted γαλέη) weasel, marten, polecat, ferret.