noun

harvestman

HAHR-vist-muhn

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Harvestman (noun) means a person, especially a man, who works to gather in the crops at harvest time. Example: “The harvestman worked from dawn until dusk during the wheat harvest.”

noun

A person, especially a man, who works to gather in the crops at harvest time.

"The harvestman worked from dawn until dusk during the wheat harvest."

"Local harvestmen were paid by the sack they brought in."

"Her grandfather was a harvestman on the same farm for forty years."

A long-legged, non-venomous arachnid of the order Opiliones, also known as a daddy longlegs.

"A harvestman scuttled across the garden fence."

"Harvestmen are often mistaken for spiders, but they are not true spiders."

"We found several harvestmen hiding under the flowerpot."

How to use harvestman

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA harvestman usually means the long-legged garden creature also called a daddy longlegs, though it can also mean a person who brings in the harvest.

When to use it

The arachnid sense is the more familiar everyday meaning; the sense meaning a person who harvests crops is the original one.

Memory tip

Remember a harvestman is not a true spider, even though people often call it one.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

harvester →

Common pairings

a harvestman's long legs mistaken for a spider harvestmen in the garden working as a harvestman

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ worked from dawn until dusk during the wheat harvest.

Etymology

Harvestman combines harvest with the suffix -man. The arachnid sense most likely takes its name because the creature's long, thin legs resemble the sickles or scythes used at harvest time, though other explanations have been proposed.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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daddy longlegs harvest spider

Related words

cranefly

Frequently asked questions

What is a harvestman?

A harvestman is most often the long-legged little arachnid also called a daddy longlegs, though the word originally meant a person who gathers the harvest.

Is a harvestman a spider?

No, a harvestman belongs to the order Opiliones and is not a true spider, even though it is often mistaken for one.

Why is the arachnid called a harvestman?

It probably gets its name because its long legs look like the sickles or scythes used to bring in a harvest.

What is the meaning of harvestman?

"harvestman" (noun) means a person, especially a man, who works to gather in the crops at harvest time.

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