king crab

American  

[king krab] / ˈkɪŋ ˈkræb /

noun

1. horseshoe crab.

2. Also called Alaskan king crab.  Also called Alaska king crab,.  Also called Alaska crab,.  a large, edible crab, Paralithodes camtschatica, of cold waters of the North Pacific Ocean, especially abundant along the coasts of Alaska and Japan.

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king crab British  

noun

1. another name for the horseshoe crab

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Etymology

Origin of king crab

First recorded in 1690–1700

Example Sentences

They caught salmon during the day, then feasted on multi-course dinners featuring Kobe beef filet and Alaskan king crab legs, and consumed $1,000 bottles of wine into the evening.

From Salon • Jan. 10, 2025

At night, the lodge's chefs served multicourse meals of Alaskan king crab legs or Kobe filet.

From Salon • Jun. 21, 2023

The result is that many crustaceans that resemble crabs, like the tasty king crab that's coveted as a seafood delicacy, aren't even technically "true crabs."

From Scientific American • Jun. 1, 2023

At Monarch, “we have a whole king crab that serves eight people and it is $1,000,” Mr. Winn said.

From New York Times • May 22, 2023

Those who are familiar with our seacoast will know an interesting creature known as the horseshoe crab, or king crab, though in reality it is not a crab at all.

From The Meaning of Evolution by Schmucker, Samuel Christian