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

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

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 • Feb. 18, 2022

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

Honestly and seriously, I do think that if the coyote would change off and try the soft-shell crab diet for a while, he would pick right up.

From A Guest at the Ludlow and Other Stories by Edgar Wilson