black widow

noun

1. a venomous spider, Latrodectus mactans, widely distributed in the U.S., the female of which is jet-black with an hourglass-shaped red mark on the underside of its abdomen.

black widow

noun

1. an American spider, Latrodectus mactans , the female of which is black with red markings, highly venomous, and commonly eats its mate

Word History and Origins

Origin of black widow¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

The film gave pretty equal heft to Captain America and Black Widow.

From The Daily Beast

Well, “Black Widow” was co-written by Katy Perry, which should say more about the song than even listening to it does.

From The Daily Beast

In any case, Azalea instead performed her new single, “Black Widow.”

From The Daily Beast

Next, the security services are talking up a Black Widow cell of up to 30 women trained in Chechnya.

From The Daily Beast

In the meantime, the Black Widow stories have already had their effect—the only one they ever have.

From The Daily Beast

I should like you to have about four black widow's caps, just such as I had made in the fall in New York, sent to me.

From Project Gutenberg

At last there came out into the quarter-gallery a very pretty lady, in deep black widow's weeds, and in her arms a baby.

From Project Gutenberg

A round old lady tied up in a sanctified black widow's bonnet stood on the step.

From Project Gutenberg