granddaddy long legs
A harvestman: that little oval body on stilts you find in the barn or yard.
Also called granddaddy longlegs, granddaddy, daddy longlegs, harvestman.
Updated September 24, 2026
granddaddy long legs pronunciation
/GRAN-dad-ee LONG legs/
Meaning
In redneck and Appalachian talk, a granddaddy long legs is a harvestman, not a true spider. One tiny body, eight skinny legs sticking out like toothpicks. Folks often shorten it to granddaddy. Kids get warned not to mash them, and old farm stories say if you ask one which way the cow went, it'll point a leg.
How folks use it
- “There's a granddaddy long legs hanging on the porch screen again.”
- “Don't squash that granddaddy long legs; just scoot him back outside.”
Origin and etymology
English speakers have called harvestmen daddy longlegs since the early 1800s (and father longlegs before that). In the Southern and Appalachian U.S., the warmer form granddaddy long legs stuck hard. Dictionary of American Regional English also records grandfather graybeard and granddaddy gray-beard for the same critter. The name harvestman comes from seeing them in late summer around harvest time.
Frequently asked questions
Is a granddaddy long legs a spider?
No. It's a harvestman. Same class as spiders (arachnid), but a different order. No silk, no venom glands like a spider's. Cellar spiders get called daddy longlegs too, which is why people argue about it.