mygale

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromμυγαλέη“shrew”
2. Late Latin · borrowed frommygale“field mouse”
3. English todaymygale

Borrowed from Late Latin mygale (“field mouse”) (Vetus Latina), from Ancient Greek μυγαλέη (mugaléē, “shrew”) (used in the Septuagint to translate Hebrew אֲנָקָה, now generally thought to indicate a gecko or similar small reptile).

First known use, by meaning

• 14th–19th A shrew or ferret.
• from 19th c. Any of the former genus Mygale of large, hairy trapdoor spiders with four lungs and four spinnerets, now distributed in Mygalomorphae.