spiny lobster

American

noun

any of several edible crustaceans of the family Palinuridae, differing from the true lobsters in having a spiny shell and lacking the large pincers.

spiny lobster British

noun

Also called: rock lobster. crawfish. langouste. any of various large edible marine decapod crustaceans of the genus Palinurus and related genera, having a very tough spiny carapace

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of spiny lobster

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A “tiki cocktail program” and dishes made for sharing, such as taco al pastor with alligator, and baked and stuffed spiny lobster tails, bring a touch of the tropics to Southern comfort cooking.

From New York Times • Jul. 24, 2023

Juvenile Caribbean spiny lobster are finding shelter within the submerged roots before their journey to nearby reefs.

From BBC • Nov. 1, 2022

In the Keys, the bag limit for spiny lobster is six per person, per boat, the Herald reported.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 28, 2021

The waterside restaurant and bar serves simple seafood—order a three-pound spiny lobster, fresh off the grill, and pair it with a bottle of rosé.

From Time • Sep. 25, 2017

In 1928, a spiny lobster cannery was established, but when the company went bankrupt in 1931, seven workers were abandoned.

From The 2008 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023