crabbing

American  

[krab-ing] / ˈkræb ɪŋ /

noun

1. the activity or occupation of fishing for crabs. crab.

2. a finishing process for reducing shrinkage and creasing of woolens and worsteds by stretching the fabric on a rotating cylinder and immersing in hot or, sometimes, cold water.

3. Aeronautics. the maneuver of heading partly into the wind to compensate for drift.

---

Etymology

Origin of crabbing

First recorded in 1870–75; crab ¹ + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Mr Walsh, who described himself as a "dabhand at handling crabs" after taking his kids crabbing on their holidays, said he gave the creature "a little stroke" and could see it was still moving.

From BBC • Sep. 19, 2025

And the weeks that are open to crabbing pose some of the most dangerous wind and weather conditions of the season.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2025

In the far north, where crabbing was supposed to be allowed starting Dec. 1, there’s a second issue: Testing in Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties revealed poor crab meat quality.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 19, 2023

When McArthur and Burris were filming the “Marsh Ruins,” they fielded warnings from the men crabbing on the pier.

From New York Times • Jul. 29, 2023

No one had told me to turn over all the money I made crabbing.

From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson