Jump to:

• crab
  crab

  noun

  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.
• Crab
  Crab

  noun

  the constellation Cancer, the fourth sign of the zodiac

crab

¹ American  

[krab] / kræb /

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.

   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, crabbing

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, crabbing

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.

idioms

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

crab ² American  

[krab] / kræb /

noun

1. a crab apple fruit or tree.

---

crab ³ American  

[krab] / kræb /

noun

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

---

verb (used without object)

crabbed, crabbing

1. Informal. to find fault; complain.

2. (of hawks) to claw each other.

verb (used with object)

crabbed, crabbing

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 British  

/ 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

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. 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 ² British  

/ 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. to attract unwelcome attention

Crab ³ British  

/ kræb /

noun

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

---

crab ⁴ British  

/ kræb /

noun

1. short for crab apple

---

Other Word Forms

• crabber
  noun
• crablike
  adjective

Etymology

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

Explanation

A crab is a stubby sea creature with a flat body, eight legs, and claws. You can sometimes find tiny crabs in the sand on the beach. Crabs have a thick, shell-like covering called an "exoskeleton," and you can find them in both fresh and saltwater. Some types of crab are considered a delicacy, with sweet, delicate flesh often called "crab meat." There are many shelled sea creatures with crab in their names, like horseshoe crabs and hermit crabs, that aren't true crabs. The word crab comes from a Germanic root related to the Low German krabben, "to claw."

Example Sentences

Families rent crab pots and put their catch in plastic buckets held by delighted children.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

Yes, one can fantasize about the end result of a good haul, i.e. crab cakes, crab cocktail and/or Crab Louie.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

According to the authors, sideways walking may represent a rare evolutionary innovation seen mainly in true crabs, and possibly in a few other groups like crab spiders and leafhopper nymphs.

From Science Daily • May 2, 2026

It also works across the board: flaked salmon with lemon and herbs, crab with celery and a lot of black pepper.

From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026

“How about playing the longest game of freeze tag? Or roller Frisbee? Or doing a crab walk for a mile? Or fitting the most people into the cool tub?”

From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan