Definition: 1) a delicate, thin curved leg, usually extending below a round table top in a group of three or four; typically ends in spade feet or no feet; characterizes late 18th-century and early 19th-century candlestands, tea tables and other light pieces; 2) a slim, straight leg often found on gatefold tables, its thin support enabling it to swing out and expand the table easily (see photo in More Images link); dates from the early 18th century; often ends in pad feet; both types remain enduringly popular to the present
Examples:
With its trio of spindly spider legs and circular top, the small Hepplewhite tea table did in fact resemble an arachnid.