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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

spiny lobsters

plural

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.

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

It features an eclectic mix of dishes such as spiny lobster with brain jelly and shiso; dry-aged pheasant with berries and abalone and mushrooms glazed in grilled liver butter.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2019

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

The spiny lobster was leaping with agility over the peaks, by means of the hooks on its claws, its weapons of war and nutrition.

From Mare Nostrum (Our Sea) A Novel by Jordan, Charlotte Brewster

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