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

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

From Seattle Times

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

A week into its opening, the buttermilk soft-shell crab slider is already one of the most talked-about bar noshes in the bar scene.

From Seattle Times

Pilots ate cream of crab soup and soft-shell crab sandwiches, fresh as could be.

From Washington Post

Expect Western twists on classic dishes, such as soft-shell crab served with a tomatillo base or elk striploin with wild mushrooms.

From Washington Post