[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

crab \crab\ kra^b, n. as. crabba; akin to d. krab, g.
   krabbe, krebs, icel. krabbi, sw. krabba, dan. krabbe, and
   perh. to e. cramp. cf. crawfish.
   1. zool. one of the brachyuran crustacea. they are mostly
      marine, and usually have a broad, short body, covered with
      a strong shell or carapace. the abdomen is small and
      curled up beneath the body.
      1913 webster

   note: the name is applied to all the brachyura, and to
         certain anomura, as the hermit crabs. formerly, it was
         sometimes applied to crustacea in general. many species
         are edible, the blue crab of the atlantic coast being
         one of the most esteemed. the large european edible
         crab is cancer padurus. soft-shelled crabs are blue
         crabs that have recently cast their shells. see
         cancer; also, box crab, fiddler crab, hermit
         crab, spider crab, etc., under box, fiddler.
         etc.
         1913 webster

   2. the zodiacal constellation cancer.
      1913 webster

   3. see crab, a. bot. a crab apple; -- so named from its
      harsh taste.
      1913 webster

            when roasted crabs hiss in the bowl,
            then nightly sings the staring owl.   --shak.
      1913 webster

   4. a cudgel made of the wood of the crab tree; a crabstick.
      obs. --garrick.
      1913 webster

   5. mech.
      a a movable winch or windlass with powerful gearing,
          used with derricks, etc.
      b a form of windlass, or geared capstan, for hauling
          ships into dock, etc.
      c a machine used in ropewalks to stretch the yarn.
      d a claw for anchoring a portable machine.
          1913 webster

   calling crab. zool. see fiddler., n., 2.

   crab apple, a small, sour apple, of several kinds; also,
      the tree which bears it; as, the european crab apple
      pyrus malus var. sylvestris; the siberian crab apple
      pyrus baccata; and the american pyrus coronaria.
      

   crab grass. bot.
      a a grass digitaria sanguinalis syn. panicum
          sanguinalis; -- called also finger grass.
      b a grass of the genus eleusine eleusine indica;
          -- called also dog's-tail grass, wire grass, etc.
          

   crab louse zool., a species of louse phthirius pubis,
      sometimes infesting the human body.

   crab plover zool., an asiatic plover dromas ardeola.
      

   crab's eyes, or crab's stones, masses of calcareous
      matter found, at certain seasons of the year, on either
      side of the stomach of the european crawfishes, and
      formerly used in medicine for absorbent and antacid
      purposes; the gastroliths.

   crab spider zool., one of a group of spiders
      laterigradae; -- called because they can run
      backwards or sideways like a crab.

   crab tree, the tree that bears crab applies.

   crab wood, a light cabinet wood obtained in guiana, which
      takes a high polish. --mcelrath.

   to catch a crab naut., a phrase used of a rower:
      a when he fails to raise his oar clear of the water;
      b when he misses the water altogether in making a
          stroke.
          1913 webster
see also:
crawfish cancer padurus soft-shelled crabs cancer box crab fiddler crab 
hermit crab spider crab box fiddler crab 
calling crab crab apple pyrus malus pyrus baccata pyrus coronaria 
crab grass digitaria sanguinalis panicum sanguinalis finger grass eleusine 
eleusine indica dog's-tail grass wire grass crab louse phthirius pubis 
crab plover dromas ardeola crab's eyes crab's stones crab spider 
laterigradae crab tree crab wood to catch a crab 

Crabs >> C Words
Crabs, definition of term: Crabs
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