land crab

noun

1. any of several crabs, especially of the family Gecarcinidae, that live chiefly upon land, returning to the sea to breed.

land crab

noun

1. any of various crabs, esp of the tropical family Gecarcinidae, that are adapted to a partly terrestrial life

Word History and Origins

Origin of land crab¹

First recorded in 1630–40

Example Sentences

Shuddering with horror, he shook it violently from him, and a large land-crab fell with a crash on the stones.

From Project Gutenberg

Even that poor groping old land-crab, with his skull full of pulp, had pride.

From Project Gutenberg

A crawfish or "land crab" will serve as a typical medium for describing the method of preparing specimens of this nature.

From Project Gutenberg

Hence, in the season, land-crab parties start from every village for the spots where they are to be found.

From Project Gutenberg

I told them it was a land-crab--which we might call the cocoa-nut crab, as we owed such a store to it.

From Project Gutenberg