huntsman

plural huntsmen · plural huntsmans

1. A hunter.

   The huntsman spoke Davey’s lingo.

   1937, Ion L. Idriess, Over the Range, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, published 1947, page 77

2. UKA fox hunter.
3. One who manages the hounds during a hunt.
4. Any of the many species of large spiders of the family Sparassidae.

   to say trapdoors and huntsmans

   2002, John Kinsella, “The Wasps”, in Divinations: Four Plays

   4 more examples

   Although they do not make webs, female huntsmans at least have not lost the ability to produce silk.

   1985, Living Australia, Dangerous Australians: The Complete Guide to Australia's Most Deadly Creatures, page 111

   The majority of desert-dwelling spiders are large burrowing spiders; the Barking Spiders Selenoeosmia stirlingi, mouse spiders, wolf spiders (Fig. 5.47), huntsmen and trapdoor spiders (Fig. 5.48).

   1995, Anne Kerle, Ayers Rock, the Olgas & Kings Canyon, Northern Territory, page 129

   Two huntsmen spiders prowl Harry′s bedroom ceiling.

   2012, Carrie Tiffany, Mateship with Birds, Pan Macmillan Australia, unnumbered page

   After the huntsman raced across my windscreen, I had an arachnophobic meltdown on the side of the road.

   2025 January 27, Alexandra Carlton, “The kindness of strangers: I pulled over in hysterics – then a passing driver saved me from the spider”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 27 Jan 2025

plural Huntsmans

1. A surname.