crab

¹

[ krab ]

noun

1. any decapod crustacean of the suborder Brachyura, having the eyes on short stalks and a short, broad, more or less flattened body, the abdomen being small and folded under the thorax.
2. any of various other crustaceans, as the hermit crab, or other animals, as the horseshoe crab, resembling the true crabs.
3. Crab,
   1. Astronomy, Astrology. the zodiacal constellation or sign Cancer. cancer.
   2. Astronomy. the Crab Nebula.
4. any of various mechanical contrivances for hoisting or pulling.
5. Aeronautics. the maneuver of crabbing.
6. Informal. the crab louse. louse1
7. crabs,
   1. (used with a singular verb) a losing throw, as two aces, in the game of hazard.
   2. pediculosis.

verb (used without object)

, crabbed, crab·bing.

1. to catch or attempt to catch crabs.
2. to move sideways, diagonally, or obliquely, especially with short, abrupt bursts of speed; scuttle.
3. Aeronautics. (of an aircraft) to head partly into the wind to compensate for drift.
4. Nautical. to drift or advance with some movement sideways, especially when under tow.

verb (used with object)

, crabbed, crab·bing.

1. to move (a vehicle or object) sideways, diagonally, or obliquely, especially with short, abrupt movements.
2. Aeronautics. to head (an aircraft) partly into the wind to compensate for drift.

crab

²

[ krab ]

noun

1. a crab apple fruit or tree.

crab

³

[ krab ]

noun

1. Informal. an ill-tempered or grouchy person.

verb (used without object)

, crabbed, crab·bing.

1. Informal. to find fault; complain.
2. (of hawks) to claw each other.

verb (used with object)

, crabbed, crab·bing.

1. Informal. to find fault with.
2. to make ill-tempered or grouchy; embitter.
3. (of a hawk) to claw (another hawk).
4. Slang. to spoil.

crab

¹

/ kræb /

noun

1. short for crab apple

crab

²

/ kræb /

noun

1. any chiefly marine decapod crustacean of the genus Cancer and related genera (section Brachyura ), having a broad flattened carapace covering the cephalothorax, beneath which is folded the abdomen. The first pair of limbs are modified as pincers See also fiddler crab soft-shell crab pea crab oyster crab cancroid
2. any of various similar or related arthropods, such as the hermit crab and horseshoe crab
3. short for crab louse
4. a manoeuvre in which an aircraft flies slightly into the crosswind to compensate for drift
5. a mechanical lifting device, esp the travelling hoist of a gantry crane
6. wrestling See Boston crab
7. catch a crab
   rowing to make a stroke in which the oar either misses the water or digs too deeply, causing the rower to fall backwards

verb

1. intr to hunt or catch crabs
2. tr to fly (an aircraft) slightly into a crosswind to compensate for drift
3. intr nautical to move forwards with a slight sideways motion, as to overcome an offsetting current
4. intr to move sideways

crab

³

/ kræb /

verb

1. intr to find fault; grumble
2. tr to spoil (esp in the phrase crab someone's act )

noun

1. an irritable person
2. draw the crabs
   to attract unwelcome attention

Crab

⁴

/ kræb /

noun

1. the Crab
   the constellation Cancer, the fourth sign of the zodiac

Other Words From

• crablike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of crab¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English crabbe, Old English crabba; cognate with Dutch krab, Old Norse krabbi; akin to German Krebs

Origin of crab²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English crabbe; perhaps special use of crab ¹

Origin of crab³

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; back formation from crabbed

Word History and Origins

Origin of crab¹

C15: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish skrabbe crab apple

Origin of crab²

Old English crabba; related to Old Norse krabbi, Old High German krebiz crab, Dutch krabben to scratch

Origin of crab³

C16: probably back formation from crabbed

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. catch a crab, to make a faulty stroke in rowing, so that the oar strikes the water forcibly on the backstroke.

Example Sentences

The coral is a species called Pavona clavus and provides a home to shrimp, crabs, fish and other marine creatures.

From BBC

Saturday was opening day for Dungeness crab season.

From Los Angeles Times

The vessel carried three adults and three minors who had been out crabbing, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.

From Los Angeles Times

It was 3 March 2021 when Billy noticed the emaciated animal, who he later named Molly, cracking crabs near his house in Shetland.

From BBC

Don’t skip the oysters, the stuffed spider crab, or the roasted leeks.

From Salon