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

The beloved roadside stand’s best offerings are its no-frills fried soft-shell crab sandwiches and fried seafood baskets with a choice of hush puppies or fries.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 2, 2021

This was his second time at the market, selling soft-shell crab sandwiches and pork belly buns.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2021

It’s the reason today’s fried soft-shell crab and pan-roasted rockfish are superior to the already superb versions served there 10 years ago.

From New York Times ● May 25, 2021

She took the damp bit of rubber—a wet overshoe, even if small and hallowed by associations, isn’t pretty—as Venus might have received a soft-shell crab from the hand of a fresh young merman.

From The House of a Thousand Candles by Nicholson, Meredith