crab

[krab]

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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.

any of various other crustaceans, as the hermit crab, or other animals, as the horseshoe crab, resembling the true crabs.

(initial capital letter) Astronomy, Astrology. the zodiacal constellation or sign Cancer.

(initial capital letter) Astronomy. the Crab Nebula.

any of various mechanical contrivances for hoisting or pulling.

Aeronautics. the maneuver of crabbing.

Informal. the crab louse.See under louse(def 1).

crabs,

(used with a singular verb)a losing throw, as two aces, in the game of hazard.
pediculosis.

verb (used without object), crabbed, crab·bing.

to catch or attempt to catch crabs.

to move sideways, diagonally, or obliquely, especially with short, abrupt bursts of speed; scuttle.

Aeronautics. (of an aircraft) to head partly into the wind to compensate for drift.

Nautical. to drift or advance with some movement sideways, especially when under tow.

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.

Idioms

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

Origin of crab

before 1000; Middle English crabbe, Old English crabba; cognate with Dutch krab, Old Norse krabbi; akin to German Krebs

Related formscrab·like, adjective

crab

[krab]

noun

a crab apple fruit or tree.

Origin of crab

1300–50; Middle English crabbe; perhaps special use of crab¹

crab

[krab]

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.

Informal. to find fault with.

to make ill-tempered or grouchy; embitter.

(of a hawk) to claw (another hawk).

Slang. to spoil.

Origin of crab

1350–1400; Middle English; back formation from crabbed

Related formscrab·ber, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for crabs

grump, complainer, sourpuss, growler, whiner, curmudgeon, faultfinder, moan, criticize, bellyache, nag, whine, carp, grumble, gripe, fuss

Examples from the Web for crabs

Contemporary Examples of crabs

The term exoskeleton refers to the hard outer shell found on insects and certain animals like grasshoppers and crabs.
The Bionic Exoskeleton Helping Paraplegics Walk
Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD
June 29, 2014
It's amazing what a few old guys can do with a little bit of charm and a whole lot of crabs.
TV Does Sex Ed
Abby Haglage
October 19, 2012
She was stranded and died on Nikumaroro Island, and her remains were carried off by crabs.
8 Crazy Conspiracy Theories About Aviator Amelia Earhart’s Demise
Jake Heller
March 21, 2012
We had seen armfuls of crabs emerging from beneath the sand on the beach.
Our Visit From Irene
India Hicks
August 27, 2011
The best way to enjoy the crabs is to play up their crackly edible shell with a batter coating.
What to Eat
Cookstr.com
June 30, 2009

Historical Examples of crabs

Put some lard into a pan, and when it is boiling hot, fry the crabs in it.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
Put the mixture into the back shells of the crabs, and serve it up.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
These crabs must be cooked directly, as they will not keep till next day.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
Admission to the great peace-loving Combine, may the crabs devour them.
Join Our Gang?
Sterling E. Lanier
And, of course, we are familiar 110with the crustaceans, the lobsters and the crabs.
Twenty-four Little French Dinners and How to Cook and Serve Them
Cora Moore

British Dictionary definitions for crabs

crabs

noun

(sometimes functioning as singular) the lowest throw in a game of chance, esp two aces in dice

Word Origin for crabs

plural of crab 1

Crab

noun

the Crab the constellation Cancer, the fourth sign of the zodiac

crab

noun

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 pincersSee also fiddler crab, soft-shell crab, pea crab, oyster crab Related adjective: cancroid

any of various similar or related arthropods, such as the hermit crab and horseshoe crab

short for crab louse

a manoeuvre in which an aircraft flies slightly into the crosswind to compensate for drift

a mechanical lifting device, esp the travelling hoist of a gantry crane

wrestling See Boston crab

catch a crab rowing to make a stroke in which the oar either misses the water or digs too deeply, causing the rower to fall backwards

verb crabs, crabbing or crabbed

(intr) to hunt or catch crabs

(tr) to fly (an aircraft) slightly into a crosswind to compensate for drift

(intr) nautical to move forwards with a slight sideways motion, as to overcome an offsetting current

(intr) to move sideways

Word Origin for crab

Old English crabba; related to Old Norse krabbi, Old High German krebiz crab, Dutch krabben to scratch

crab

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

crab

noun

short for crab apple

Word Origin for crab

C15: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish skrabbe crab apple

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for crabs

crab

n.1

crustacean, Old English crabba, from a general Germanic root (cf. Dutch krab, Old High German krebiz, German Krabbe, Old Norse krabbi "crab"), related to Low German krabben, Dutch krabelen "to scratch, claw," from PIE root *gerbh- "to scratch, carve" (see carve). The constellation name is attested in English from c.1000; the Crab Nebula (1868), however, is in Taurus, and is so called for its shape. French crabe (13c.) is from Dutch.

crab

n.2

"fruit of the wild apple tree," c.1300, crabbe, perhaps from Scandinavian scrab, of obscure origin (cf. Swedish krabbäpple). The combination of "bad-tempered, combative" and "sour" in the two nouns crab naturally yielded a verb meaning of "to vex, irritate" (c.1400), later "to complain irritably, find fault" (c.1500). The noun meaning "sour person" is from 1570s.