'attercrop' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'attercoppe', where 'atter-' meant 'poison' and 'coppe' meant 'spider' or 'insect'.

'attercrop' changed from the Old English word 'attercoppe' to Middle English 'attercop' and survived in some dialects and literary uses to become the modern (archaic/dialect) English 'attercrop'.

Initially, it referred to a 'poisonous creature' or generally a 'poison-insect' (often a spider), but over time it narrowed to mean 'spider' and later acquired a figurative sense as an insult for an ill-natured person.