Joro spider

or jor·o spi·der

[ jawr-oh spahy-der ]

noun

1. a large, multicolored, invasive but relatively harmless spider, Trichonephilia clavata (formerly classified with the genus Nephilia ), found throughout much of Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan, and recently introduced to the eastern United States: known as the “parachuting spider” for its habit of dropping, with long legs extended, from great heights.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Joro spider¹

First recorded in 2010–15; from Japanese jorō(gumo) “woman (spider),” in Japanese folklore a goblin that can change from a spider into a beautiful woman