hermit crab

noun

1. any of numerous crabs, especially of the genera Pagurus and Eupagurus, that protect their soft uncovered abdomen by occupying the castoff shell of a univalve mollusk.

hermit crab

noun

1. any small soft-bodied decapod crustacean of the genus Pagurus and related genera, living in and carrying about the empty shells of whelks or similar molluscs

Word History and Origins

Origin of hermit crab¹

First recorded in 1725–35

Example Sentences

"Earlier this week, we’ve had a hermit crab that came back from Malta in a shell," he said.

From BBC

"We saw it in two-thirds of all terrestrial hermit crab species," said Prof Szulkin.

From BBC

In the study of creative writing, an essay with a borrowed form — like President Nixon’s tapes in the Important American Document “Richard Nixon Tapes But Just the Parts Where He’s Yelling at Checkers” — is called a “hermit crab essay.”

From Washington Post

A contest was on to find the biggest hermit crab.

From New York Times

Since 2018, Animal Care Centers of New York City, which takes in surrendered animals, has received just 144 fish and one hermit crab, according to Katy Hansen, a spokeswoman.

From New York Times