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Definition of harvestman

harvestman

/ˈhɑːrvəstmən/
har · vest · man
Plural:harvestmen
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harvestman Lexical Profile

harvestman Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An arachnid of the order Opiliones, characterized by a single fused body segment and typically very long, slender legs, widely distributed in terrestrial habitats globally.

Example

"While cleaning the damp corners of the old barn, she noticed a harvestman slowly making its way across the wooden beam."

Word Nuance & Usage

Although frequently called 'daddy longlegs' and mistaken for spiders, harvestmen are biologically distinct; they belong to the order Opiliones and lack both venom and silk glands.

• Nearby Words

harvest mouse
harvestable
harvester
harvestman
harvesttime
harz
hash

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the 1660s, likely because these arachnids are most commonly observed in late summer and autumn during the agricultural harvest.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Harvestman. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/harvestman
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