Slangora

daddy longlegs

(Australia, Canada, New Zealand, US) Any (non-spider) arachnid of the order , mostly with long thin legs.

ˈdædɪ ˈlɒŋ(ɡ)lɛɡzDocumented since 1810sSilenthistorical122 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇬🇧 British & Irish slang
3 definitions
Community

Etymology timeline

Born ~1810 · no dated citations yet
1810BornToday, 2026

Definitions

UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK

(Australia, Canada, New Zealand, US) Any (non-spider) arachnid of the order , mostly with long thin legs.

For parents

"daddy longlegs" means: Any (non-spider) arachnid of the order , mostly with long thin legs.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"daddy longlegs" means: Any (non-spider) arachnid of the order , mostly with long thin legs.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. Note the regional or dialect label (New Zealand) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

Was this helpful?

Comments

UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK

(loosely) The daddy long-legs spider, any spider of the family .

Was this helpful?

Comments

UK
#3·Apr 27, 2026UK

(UK, Ireland) The cranefly; any insect of the suborder .

Daddy longlegs adults are weak flyers, falling onto the water surface in the lightest of breezes, and even on calm days.
Origin: From daddy + longlegs. First attested in 1810s. Preceded by father longlegs, attested from 1740s. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Was this helpful?

Comments

For specific readers

"daddy longlegs" means: Any (non-spider) arachnid of the order , mostly with long thin legs.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

Used in

UK

Have a better definition?

Add your own interpretation of "daddy longlegs".

Add definition

Related vocabulary

🇬🇧About British & Irish slang slang

UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.

See all British & Irish slang slang on Slangora.

Tags

Other words near "daddy longlegs" (D)

Browse all slang words starting with D.

Related terms

People also read

Semantically related