soft-shell crab

American  

noun

1. a crab, especially the blue crab, that has recently molted and therefore has a soft, edible shell.

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soft-shell crab British  

noun

1. a crab, esp of the edible species Cancer pagurus, that has recently moulted and has not yet formed its new shell Compare hard-shell crab

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Etymology

Origin of soft-shell crab

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

soft-shell crab

I ordered a stir fry of crab and broken rice with greens and yam that came topped with a fried soft-shell crab drizzled with shito, a Ghanaian chili sauce.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026

In January, during Orange City’s annual manatee festival, food trucks hawked soft-shell crab and alligator sausage.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 9, 2022

There’s also flavorful Tokyo-style ramen, soft-shell crab tempura that arrives looking like a claw emerging from the bowl, and a selection of more than a dozen sakes.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 24, 2022

Chicken, shrimp, soft-shell crab, mixed seafood or tofu can be added to any of the dishes.

From New York Times ● Sep. 13, 2021

One-third New York cheese, one-third dessicated soft-shell crab, one-sixth green peppers chopped very fine.

From The Cookery Blue Book by First Unitarian Society of San Francisco. Society for Christian Work