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blue crab

American

noun

an edible crab, Callinectes sapidus, having a dark green body and bluish legs, found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America.

Etymology

Origin of blue crab

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Tender flaked blue crab and summer squash add sweetness and depth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 15, 2025

Atlantic blue crab species reached the Mediterranean in ballast waters and through the Suez Canal.

From National Geographic • Jan. 29, 2024

Adding to the fishermens’ woes: A female blue crab produces about half a million eggs a year, and by some estimates up to 2 million.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 19, 2023

Named for their brilliant sapphire-colored claws, blue crab is one of the most iconic species in the Chesapeake Bay.

From Salon • Aug. 15, 2023

Only I was not thinking of saving the blue crab now.

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023