crayfish
Americannoun
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crayfish,
plural
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crayfishes
plural
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Also called crawdad, crawdaddy. any freshwater decapod crustacean of the genera Astacus and Cambarus, closely related to but smaller than the lobsters.
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any of several similar marine crustaceans, especially the spiny lobster.
noun
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any freshwater decapod crustacean of the genera Astacus and Cambarus, resembling a small lobster
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any of various similar crustaceans, esp the spiny lobster
Usage
What does crayfish mean? A crayfish is a freshwater crustacean related to the lobster but smaller. Crayfish is also used as the name of several similar saltwater crustaceans, especially the spiny lobster (also called the rock lobster). The plural of crayfish can be crayfish or crayfishes. When used as a plural, crayfish typically refers to them collectively, while crayfishes usually refers to two or more kinds or species (but this isn’t always the case). Crayfish aren’t fish—they’re shellfish. Other types of crustaceans include crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. There are several different species of both freshwater and saltwater crayfish. Freshwater ones are also referred to by the names crawfish, crawdad, and crawdaddy. Use of these terms varies by region. Example: When I was a kid, we used to catch crayfish in the creek.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of crayfish
1350–1400; alteration (by folk etymology) of Middle English crevis < Middle French crevice < Old High German krebiz crab 1
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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.
See Examples For:
That raised an obvious question: Why do North American crayfish appear to stop growing at around this size when some species elsewhere in the world, including the Tasmanian giant freshwater crayfish, can become dramatically larger?
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
Using calipers, instruments designed to measure objects with great precision, the researchers compared the sizes of preserved crayfish.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
A giant crayfish nicknamed "Crawzilla" has sparked an unexpected scientific discovery, revealing a possible biological limit to how large North America's crayfish can grow.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
Environmental specialist Peter Cunningham told AFP that potential sediment plumes could impact rocky shoreline habitats, crayfish spawning and breeding species.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
“See what the waves brought to the shore last night. Catch some crayfish, ashaageshinh, watch out for their claws. I don’t mind helping.”
From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich
The crayfishes would leave these little retreats whenever disturbed, and swim away down stream out of sight.
From Scientific American Supplement, No. 446, July 19, 1884 by Various
Name three in which they differ.How are crayfishes caught for market?
From A Guide for the Study of Animals by Frederic Lucas
And at the same time," added Bouvard, for they mutually excited each other, "this Providence takes care of little birds, and makes the claws of crayfishes grow again.
From Bouvard and Pécuchet A Tragi-comic Novel of Bourgeois Life by Gustave Flaubert
In South America crayfishes are found in southern Brazil, Argentina and Chile.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 6 "Coucy-le-Château" to "Crocodile" by Various
Upon what do you base your answer?Name two points in which earthworms and crayfishes are alike.
From A Guide for the Study of Animals by Frederic Lucas
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