An aquatic spider of either of the genera Argyroneta or Dolomedes. In early use applied loosely to insects that move swiftly on the surface of water.
1552. Elyot’s Dict., Tipula,… a water spider.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 696. The Water-Spider that hath six Legs.
1710. Ray, Hist. Insect., 71. De Tipula. The Water-Spider.
c. 1711. Petiver, Gazophyl., I. Tab. 9. It’s much slenderer and less than the common Water-Spider.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist., VII. 263. The Water-spider … resembles the common spider in its appearance, except that its hinder part is made rather in the shape of a nine-pin than a ball.
1854. A. Adams, etc., Man. Nat. Hist., 27. The diving-bell of the Water Spider (Argyroneta aquatica).
1897. Edin. Rev., July, 174. The water-spider, if but a day old, dives into the water.
