crayfish

[krey-fish]

noun

plural

crayfish ,

plural

crayfishes .

1. Also called crawdad, crawdaddy. any freshwater decapod crustacean of the genera Astacus and Cambarus, closely related to but smaller than the lobsters.

2. any of several similar marine crustaceans, especially the spiny lobster.

crayfish

/ ˈkreɪˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any freshwater decapod crustacean of the genera Astacus and Cambarus, resembling a small lobster

2. any of various similar crustaceans, esp the spiny lobster

Word History and Origins

Origin of crayfish¹

1350–1400; alteration (by folk etymology) of Middle English crevis < Middle French crevice < Old High German krebiz crab ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of crayfish¹

C14: cray , by folk etymology, from Old French crevice crab, from Old High German krebiz + _fish

Example Sentences

A little too much -- American expats bully European crayfish and spread disease, driving many local species to the brink.

Read more on Science Daily

As with humans, crayfish and capybaras, if you look you’ll find the biochemical markers of the poor bees’ cognitive change.

Read more on Salon

On another, the dollop of Ghanaian shito served with the jollof and short rib was nearly searing, with an admirable salty depth from dried crayfish, shrimp and fish.

Read more on Seattle Times

Nail birds on the wing and anything in the water, from fish to snails to crayfish and frogs.

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As I watched, he photographed a striated darter that didn't yet have a name, a Yellow Bass, an Orangefin Shiner and a giant crayfish discovered in 2011 in the very creek we were at.

Read more on Scientific American

Related Words

• clam 
• conch 
• crawfish 
• crustacean 
• lobster 
• mollusk 
• mussel 
• oyster 
• prawn 
• scallop 
• shrimp 
• snail 

When To Use

What does crayfish mean?

A crayfish is a freshwater crustacean related to the lobster but smaller.Crayfish is also used as the name of several similar saltwater crustaceans, especially the spiny lobster (also called the rock lobster).The plural of crayfish can be crayfish or crayfishes. When used as a plural, crayfish typically refers to them collectively, while crayfishes usually refers to two or more kinds or species (but this isn’t always the case).Crayfish aren’t fish—they’re shellfish. Other types of crustaceans include crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. There are several different species of both freshwater and saltwater crayfish. Freshwater ones are also referred to by the names crawfish, crawdad, and crawdaddy. Use of these terms varies by region.Example: When I was a kid, we used to catch crayfish in the creek.