coconut crab

noun

1. a large, terrestrial crab, Birgus latro, of islands in the South Pacific, that feeds on coconuts.

Word History and Origins

Origin of coconut crab¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

These days, I’ve felt a lot like a defenseless young coconut crab when I scuttle from my cluttered home, panicked if I don’t have what I need at hand.

From Outside Online

The coconut crab is the world’s largest terrestrial arthropod, a terrifying creature that reaches up to three feet in length and in many ways resembles an unsettlingly substantial spider.

From Outside Online