daddy longlegs

noun

dad·​dy long·​legs ˌda-dē-ˈlȯŋ-ˌlegz How to pronounce daddy longlegs (audio)
-ˌlāgz
plural daddy longlegs
1
chiefly British : crane fly
2
: any of an order (Opiliones) of arachnids that have slender usually long legs and that resemble spiders but have an oval body lacking a constriction

called also harvestman

Examples of daddy longlegs in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The question is really about the common cellar spider (Pholcus phalangioides), sometimes called the daddy longlegs spider. — Melissa Petruzzello, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026 Research has shown, for example, that a species of female harvestmen (as daddy longlegs are also called) will perform fellatio to avoid potential violence from males. — Christa Lesté-Lasserre, Scientific American, 3 Aug. 2026 Previous literature has noted occasional interactions between daddy longlegs and frogs, but accounts have been largely anecdotal. — Jay Kakade july 13, New Atlas, 14 July 2026 The presence of vestigial eyes in daddy longlegs indicates the creatures are roughly 50 million years older than previously thought, according to the paper. — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024 See All Example Sentences for daddy longlegs

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of daddy longlegs was in 1818

Rhymes for daddy longlegs

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Browse Nearby Words

daddy
daddy longlegs
daddynut
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Cite this Entry

“Daddy longlegs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daddy%20longlegs. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

daddy longlegs

noun
dad·​dy long·​legs ˌdad-ē-ˈlȯŋ-ˌlegz How to pronounce daddy longlegs (audio)
1
: crane fly
2
: any of various invertebrates that are arachnids which resemble true spiders but have a small rounded body and very long slender legs

called also harvestman

More from Merriam-Webster on daddy longlegs

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about daddy longlegs

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