stone crab

noun

1. an edible crab, Menippe mercenaria, of rocky shores from the southern U.S. to Mexico and certain areas of the Caribbean, prized for the meat of its claws.

Word History and Origins

Origin of stone crab¹

An Americanism dating back to 1700–10

Example Sentences

Singapore offers smaller portions, he says, while Las Vegas leans showier and Miami features stone crab.

From Washington Post

Only the claws of stone crabs are harvested since when removed and released back into the wild, new ones will grow back.

From Popular-Science

Since the stone crab is capable of regrowing its claws every 18 months, this break prevents overfishing of the briny delicacy.

From The Daily Beast

When stone crab season opens this Friday, mouths will water across the country, but take a few key pieces of advice.

From The Daily Beast

One local company, George Stone Crab, estimates its haul at 5,000 pounds per day in the Keys alone.

From The Daily Beast

When stone crab season opens Friday, mouths will water across the country, but take a few key pieces of advice.

From The Daily Beast

In one hand, he held tightly clenched, a big stone crab and a large conch.

From Project Gutenberg