/(a)nánsi/ Also Nanza, Nassy, Nasty [Pan-Creole; cf. Haitian annasi idem TDKF; cf. US Black Ann Nancy ... spin her house (Backus 1898:289); cf. Twi ananse spider DJE and Ibo Anaiza spider, folk-tale character (Okolo p.c.)] n. 1. a spider (sp?) up to three inches long which constructs webs between trees. (Nassau)

2. a folk-tale hero: 1917 B'o' Nanza (Cleare 229). 1918 Ber Nancy . .. B'o' Nassy . . . Dis man name Annancy (Parsons 87, 89, 107). 1966 B' Anansi-or Nansi, Boy Nasty, or Gulumbanasi-a trickster and hero, either boy, man, or monkey . . . (but) B' Spider is the only web-spinning trickster in the Bahamas (Crowley 29).