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crab
1[ krab ]
/ krĂŠb /
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noun
verb (used without object), crabbed, crab·bing.
verb (used with object), crabbed, crab·bing.
to move (a vehicle or object) sideways, diagonally, or obliquely, especially with short, abrupt movements.
Aeronautics. to head (an aircraft) partly into the wind to compensate for drift.
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Idioms about crab
catch a crab, to make a faulty stroke in rowing, so that the oar strikes the water forcibly on the backstroke.
Origin of crab
1First recorded before 1000; Middle English crabbe, Old English crabba; cognate with Dutch krab, Old Norse krabbi; akin to German Krebs
OTHER WORDS FROM crab
crablike, adjectiveOther definitions for crab (2 of 3)
Origin of crab
2First recorded in 1300â50; Middle English crabbe; perhaps special use of crab1
Other definitions for crab (3 of 3)
crab3
[ krab ]
/ krĂŠb /
noun
Informal. an ill-tempered or grouchy person.
verb (used without object), crabbed, crab·bing.
Informal. to find fault; complain.
(of hawks) to claw each other.
verb (used with object), crabbed, crab·bing.
Origin of crab
3First recorded in 1350â1400; Middle English; back formation from crabbed
OTHER WORDS FROM crab
crabber, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use crab in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for crab (1 of 4)
crab1
/ (krĂŠb) /
noun
verb crabs, crabbing or crabbed
See also crabs
Word Origin for crab
Old English crabba; related to Old Norse krabbi, Old High German krebiz crab, Dutch krabben to scratch
British Dictionary definitions for crab (2 of 4)
crab2
/ (krĂŠb) informal /
verb crabs, crabbing or crabbed
(intr) to find fault; grumble
(tr) mainly US to spoil (esp in the phrase crab someone's act)
noun
an irritable person
draw the crabs Australian to attract unwelcome attention
Word Origin for crab
C16: probably back formation from crabbed
British Dictionary definitions for crab (3 of 4)
Word Origin for crab
C15: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish skrabbe crab apple
British Dictionary definitions for crab (4 of 4)
Crab
/ (krĂŠb) /
noun
the Crab the constellation Cancer, the fourth sign of the zodiac
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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