noun

1. any of an order (Araneae) of small, chiefly land arachnids having a body composed of a cephalothorax bearing the legs and an abdomen bearing two or more pairs of spinnerets that spin the silk threads from which are made nests, cocoons for the eggs, or webs for trapping insects
2. ☆ a cast-iron frying pan, orig. one with legs for use on a hearth
3. any of various devices or frameworks with several leglike extensions

Etymology: ME spithre < OE spithra < *spinthra < spinnan, to spin