horseshoe crab

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noun

a large marine arthropod, Limulus polyphemus, of shallow coastal waters of eastern North America and eastern Asia, having both compound and simple eyes, book gills, a stiff tail, and a brown carapace curved like a horseshoe: a living fossil related to the woodlouse.

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Also called king crab.

Origin of horseshoe crab

First recorded in 1765–75

Words nearby horseshoe crab

horseshit, horseshoe, horseshoe arch, horseshoe back, horseshoe bat, horseshoe crab, horseshoe fern, horseshoe fistula, horseshoe kidney, horseshoe magnet, horseshoes

How to use horseshoe crab in a sentence

The fossilized brain is remarkably similar to the brains of modern horseshoe crabs, giving clues to the arthropods’ evolution, Bicknell and colleagues report July 26 in Geology.
How fossilization preserved a 310-million-year-old horseshoe crab’s brain|Rebecca Dzombak|August 20, 2021|Science News
The specimen of the horseshoe crab, Euproops danae, comes from the world-famous Mazon Creek deposit of Illinois, in the US.
Ancient Brains: Inside the Extraordinary Preservation of a 310-Million-Year-Old Nervous System|John Paterson|July 30, 2021|Singularity Hub
The horseshoe crab fossil we document in our study sheds new light on how these fragile organs—typically prone to very rapid decay—can be preserved with such fidelity.
Ancient Brains: Inside the Extraordinary Preservation of a 310-Million-Year-Old Nervous System|John Paterson|July 30, 2021|Singularity Hub
Hopefully the horseshoe crab creates many more smiles and lots of excitement for all ages in its new home on H and 16th streets.
Finding these artful animals around Capitol Hill is as easy as ABC|Fritz Hahn|July 22, 2021|Washington Post

The best moment in the horseshoe crab project was when I delivered the sculpture to CHAW.
Finding these artful animals around Capitol Hill is as easy as ABC|Fritz Hahn|July 22, 2021|Washington Post
Someone called him a hermit crab lurking in the halls of the United Nations.
The Man Who Invented the Word ‘Genocide’|Nina Strochlic|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There were jokes about Winston shoplifting crab legs earlier this year.
Jameis Winston's Inevitable #epicfail|Gideon Resnick|August 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Wrap cooked crab legs in bacon, and bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.
Epic Meal Empire’s Meat Monstrosities: From the Bacon Spider to the Cinnabattleship|Harley Morenstein|July 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An after-party was held at the Diamond Horseshoe nightclub at the Paramount Hotel on West 46th Street.
Camilla’s Brother Dies in Freak New York Accident|Tom Sykes|April 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When it comes to Dungeness crab, plain is perfect, but culinary adventurers should also try a house-made Dungeness crab burger.
Become a Fried Seafood Believer at South Beach Market|Jane & Michael Stern|April 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Leo stood in front of the Crab, and the half darkness allowed him a glimpse of that vast blue-black back, and the motionless eyes.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
In the middle of his singing he felt the cold touch of the Crab's claw on the apple of his throat.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
On three sides the surrounding ground rose steeply, forming an irregular horseshoe mound that opened to the west.
Uncanny Tales|Various
“Follow me, Mr Larks,” he said, turning and descending the ladder sailor-fashion—which means crab-wise.
The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands|R.M. Ballantyne
Up and up went the trail, twisting back and forth in long horseshoe curves.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews

British Dictionary definitions for horseshoe crab

horseshoe crab

noun

any marine chelicerate arthropod of the genus Limulus, of North America and Asia, having a rounded heavily armoured body with a long pointed tail: class MerostomataAlso called: king crab

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