soft-shell crab

American  

noun

1. a crab, especially the blue crab, that has recently molted and therefore has a soft, edible shell.

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soft-shell crab British  

noun

1. a crab, esp of the edible species Cancer pagurus, that has recently moulted and has not yet formed its new shell Compare hard-shell crab

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Etymology

Origin of soft-shell crab

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

I ordered a stir fry of crab and broken rice with greens and yam that came topped with a fried soft-shell crab drizzled with shito, a Ghanaian chili sauce.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

Expect Western twists on classic dishes, such as soft-shell crab served with a tomatillo base or elk striploin with wild mushrooms.

From Washington Post • Sep. 30, 2021

All of its greatest hits are here: lobster rolls, fried soft-shell crab, seafood chowder and fish and chips.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 25, 2021

Chicken, shrimp, soft-shell crab, mixed seafood or tofu can be added to any of the dishes.

From New York Times • Sep. 13, 2021

She took the damp bit of rubber—a wet overshoe, even if small and hallowed by associations, isn’t pretty—as Venus might have received a soft-shell crab from the hand of a fresh young merman.

From The House of a Thousand Candles by Nicholson, Meredith