crab en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ˈkɹɛb/ (New-Zealand)
- /ˈkɾab/ (Scotland, Wales)
- (US) audio
- /ˈkɹab/ (British, Northern-England, Southern, Standard)
- /ˈkɻab/ (Northern-Ireland)
- /kɹæb/ (Australia, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- krăb
Etymology
From Middle English crabbe, from Old English crabba (“crab; crayfish; cancer”), from Proto-West Germanic *krabbō, from Proto-Germanic *krabbô, from *krabbōną (“to scratch”), from Proto-Indo-European *grobʰeh₂yéti (“to scratch”), a metathesised o-grade of *gerbʰ- (“to carve, scratch”). More at carve. Cognates See also Dutch krab, Low German Krabb, Danish krabbe, Swedish krabba. Further cognates with frequentative-infix are Saterland Frisian krabbelje (“to creep, crawl”), Dutch krabbelen (“to scratch”) and German krabbeln (“to crawl”). Possibly related to English creep and Swedish krypa (“to creep, crawl”) etc. Other origins have also been suggested, see Ancient Greek κάραβος (kárabos) (regarding the possibility of a substrate origin) and Persian خرچنگ (regarding possible ideophonic origin); compare also Old Armenian քարբ (kʻarb), German Krebs.
Meanings
- (countable, uncountable) Any crustacean of the infraorder Brachyura, having five pairs of legs, the foremost of which are in the form of claws, and a carapace.
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(uncountable) The meat of this crustacean, served as food; crabmeat.
But Richmond[…]appeared to lose himself in his own reflections. Some pickled crab, which he had not touched, had been removed with a damson pie; and his sister saw[…]that he had eaten no more than a spoonful of that either.
1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax:
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(countable, uncountable) Various other animals that resemble true crabs: ▸ Any of various crustacean in the infraorder Anomura, usually excluding squat lobsters.
Despite its name, the hermit crab is not a true crab!
- (countable, uncountable) Various other animals that resemble true crabs: ▸ A horseshoe crab.
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(countable, uncountable) A bad-tempered person.
She so obviously enjoyed every second of the concert that only the most stubborn crab could not have been warmed by her charm.
1983 April 30, Sue Hyde, “Expanding Worldviews”, in Gay Community News, page 12:
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(countable, informal, qualifier:in plural crabs, uncountable) An infestation of pubic lice (Pthirus pubis).
Although crabs themselves are an easily treated inconvenience, the patient and his partner(s) clearly run major STD risks.
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(abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of crab angle.
alt of crab angle
The pilot had to hold fifteen degrees of crab during the approach to keep her plane from getting blown off the localizer course.
- (countable, slang, uncountable) A playing card with the rank of three.
- (countable, uncountable) A position in rowing where the oar is pushed under the rigger by the force of the water.
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(countable, uncountable) A defect in an outwardly normal object that may render it inconvenient and troublesome to use.
-- "I suppose you wouldn't like to do a locum for a month on the South coast? Three guineas a week with board and lodging." -- "I wouldn't mind," said Philip. -- "It's at Farnley, in Dorsetshire. Doctor South. You'd have to go down at once; his assistant has developed mumps. I believe it's a very pleasant place." There was something in the secretary's manner that puzzled Philip. It was a little doubtful. -- "What's the crab in it?" he asked.
1915, W.S. Maugham, “chapter 116”, in Of Human Bondage:Arrested by the low price of another “desirable residence”, I asked “What's the crab?” The agent assured me that there was no crab. I fell in love with this house at sight. Happily, I discovered that it was reputed to be haunted.
1940, Horace Annesley Vachell, Little Tyrannies:
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(countable, dated, uncountable) An unsold book that is returned to the publisher.
[…] unsold copies and settling the yearly accounts; while for the publisher begins the much dreaded season of "crabs," as […]
1892, The Publishers Weekly, volume 41, page 709:[…] the unsold copies may be returned to the original publisher , at a period fixed upon between Christmas and Easter; these returned copies are technically called krebse or crabs, probably, from their walking backwards. […] A says to B, "I have had eight thousand dollars' worth of your publications, three thousand were crabs, that makes five thousand."
1844, Albert Henry Payne, Payne's universum, or pictorial world, page 99:
- (Singapore, countable, slang, uncountable) On an insignia, a coat of arms symbol representing a senior rank.
- (countable, derogatory, qualifier:Blood slang, uncountable) A member of the Crips.
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(countable, informal, uncountable) A pubic louse.
Pthirus pubis PUBIC LOUSE, aka CRABS
2023, translated in 2025, Berta Páramo and translated by Marc Correa Haro, Lice: How to Survive on Humans, page 48:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| crabs | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Deriveds
blue crab · crab football · shore crab · crab-eater seal · sentinel crab · Asian blue crab · deviled crab · chilli crab · crab-favored · paddyfields crab · crabgrass · spider-crab · robber crab · crab-farming · turn out crabs · crab-catcher · decorator crab · porcupine crab · tuna crab · pea-crab · Atlantic ghost crab · crab canon · Chinese mitten crab · shame-faced crab · Crab Nebula · crab market · swimming crab · lady crab · mantis crab · crab Louie · crab-favoured · crab mentality · crabbed · green crab · shamefaced crab · crabshell · crab yaws · crab face · crab fat · Iowa crab · Boston crab · vampire crab · crab-eating macaque · mangrove crab · crab claw · circular crab · brown box crab · chili crab · crab cactus · crab-stone · crabless · troll crab · blue swimmer crab · Molucca crab · crab-eating · crabcore · glass-crab · Jonah crab · crab soccer · white crab · crab-fish · Japanese crab · crab cake · wharf crab · hermit crab · thumbnail crab · true crab · giant hermit crab · crabhole · crab-eating frog · crab apple · crab sex · fast crab · Dolly Varden crab · stilt crab · crab butter · rubble crab · crab-roller · crab boil · Hoff crab · cut a crab · crab-harrow · crack crab · pusser's crabs · crabwalk · box crab · nobody crab · crab-canon · snow crab · Alaska crab · purser's crabs · crab stick · crab rangoon · Tasmanian giant crab · book-crab · crab-eating fox · Shanghai hairy crab · edible crab · palm crab · paxillose crab · soldier-crab · shellback crab · crab fork · catch a crab · crab meat · soft-shell crab · she-crab · crab-hole · crab-sidle · crabwich · soft-shelled crab · imitation crab · racing crab · round crab · ghost crab · river crab · arrow crab · crab Louis · mole crab · strawberry crab · yellowline arrow crab · crab-spider · moss crab · Chinese crab · crab plover · applecrab · thinstripe hermit crab · sheep crab · Halloween crab · crab-lobster · black crab · butterfly crab · horseshoe crab · calling crab · crab puff · crabbish · crab-weed · crab rock · reef crab · crabber · spanner crab · crabbing · golden crab · masked crab · horse crab · crabeater · crabburger · yeti crab · no-body crab · scavenger crab · coconut crab · crab-eating zorro · crab-louse · tree crab · crab-face · velvet crab · gazami crab · land-crab · crabling · crab spider · giant mud crab · come off crabs · Parkman crab · purse crab · crab-faced · king crab · mud crab · crab lantern · sand crab · king-crab · decrab · Dungeness crab · crabbery · sea crab · crabby · marsh crab · pea crab · crab louse · crabfaced · crab claw sail · soldier crab · opilio crab · crab bucket syndrome · false crab · red crab · pole-crab · crab-snouted · devilled crab · crabologist · crabfish · anticrab · spider crab · crabwise · crab-eating rat · brown crab · crab burger · stone crab · sleepy crab · crabocado · helmet crab · crab-like · black finger crab · sponge crab · crab-step · masking crab · land crab · crab-holed · crab-pot valve · crab-eating raccoon · crab-eater · crablet · porcelain crab · turtle crab · crab dolly · crab-pot · rock crab · crab's claw · crab angle · crabmeat · crab-claw · crab's eye · Diogenes crab · shore-crab · crab-grass · Christmas Island red crab · hard-shell crab · werecrab · oyster crab · crabstone · umbrella crab · mouthless crab · flower crab · crablike · fiddler crab · crab-shell · crab's-eye
Translations (291)
yue 蟹 (crustacean) · ms ketam (crustacean) · fur granç (crustacean) · kw kanker (crustacean) · yox 蟹 (crustacean) · mfe krab (crustacean) · okn 蟹 (crustacean) · tr yengeç (crustacean) · tsg kagang (crustacean) · rsk краба (crustacean) · zza kerkinc (crustacean) · lo ປູ (crustacean) · ru краб (crustacean) · mel ketem (crustacean) · acx شنجوب (crustacean) · fi satiaisia (informal: infestation of pubic lice) · ega ɔxá (crustacean) · tyv краб (crustacean) · it granchio (crustacean) · nch xilij (crustacean) · ibg agama (crustacean) · nv chʼosh bikágí ntłʼizí (crustacean) · eu karramarro (crustacean) · ca cranc (crustacean) · ain アㇺパイ (crustacean) · fr tourteau (crustacean) · ain アㇺパヤヤ (crustacean) · af krap (crustacean) · pt caranguejo (crustacean) · nan-hbl 蟳仔 /𫊻仔 (crustacean) · cs krab (crustacean) · mvv pua' (crustacean) · shn ပူ (crustacean) · st lekhala (crustacean) · tl katang (crustacean) · gu કરચલો (crustacean) · ab адыҕаҷиа (crustacean) · fa-ira کَرْزَنْگ (crustacean) · pl opryskliwy (bad-tempered person) · mn наймалж (crustacean) · gd partan (crustacean) · ur گیگْڑا (crustacean) · eo grumblemulo (bad-tempered person) · fi rapu (crustacean) · acm جِنّيْب (crustacean) · kqr tongkuyu (crustacean) · oj ashaageshiinh (crustacean) · ta நண்டு (crustacean) · hak 老蟹 (crustacean) · fur masanete (crustacean) · as কেঁকোৰা (crustacean) · mg foza (crustacean) · gl chabro (crustacean) · ja カニ (crustacean) · pi kakkaṭaka (crustacean) · am ክራብ (crustacean) · si කකුළුවා (crustacean) · se reabbá (crustacean) · ar سَرَطَان (crustacean) · mdh ugagan (crustacean) · es ladilla (informal: infestation of pubic lice) · ug قىسقۇچپاقا (crustacean) · sl rakovica (crustacean) · be краб (crustacean) · wuu 蟹 (crustacean) · th ปู (crustacean) · cmn 螃蟹 (crustacean) · oc favolha (crustacean) · vif nkala (crustacean) · mlm ˀjai⁵ (crustacean) · es maneto (informal: infestation of pubic lice) · rgn gâmbar (crustacean) · sne kuyoh (crustacean) · ja 蟹 (crustacean) · el καρκίνος (crustacean) · bg краб (crustacean) · ram paj (crustacean) · is krabbi (crustacean) · ur کیکْڑا (crustacean) · ar سَلْطَعون (crustacean) · la cancer marinus (crustacean) · cmn 蟹 (crustacean) · ckb قِرژاڵ (crustacean) · tn lekakauwe (crustacean) · lv krabis (crustacean) · ast cámbaru (crustacean) · xh unonkala (crustacean) · an candreixo (crustacean) · mi pāpaka (crustacean) · apc سَلْطَعون (crustacean) · rm giomber (crustacean) · gd crùbag (crustacean) · mel buyou (crustacean) · ast camarón (crustacean) · cs filcky (informal: infestation of pubic lice) · egl gafa (crustacean) · bg мо́рски рак (crustacean) · sk krab (crustacean) · uz dengiz qisqichbaqasi (crustacean) · os краб (crustacean) · arz كابوريا (crustacean) · fy krab (crustacean) · ckt каӈколгын (crustacean) · sh rȁk (crustacean) · yi קראַב (crustacean) · ceb kasag (crustacean) · ky краб (crustacean) · ksw ဆွဲၣ် (crustacean) · srn krabu (crustacean) · uk краб (crustacean) · nhn tecuicihtli (crustacean) · pl krab (crustacean) · tvo horu (sea-crab) (crustacean) · bn কাঁকড়া (crustacean) · sdh قِرژِنگ (crustacean) · kk таңқышаян (crustacean) · zza kerkınc (diq) (crustacean) · uz krab (crustacean) · lt krabas (crustacean) · ota ینكج (crustacean) · afb قبقب (crustacean) · akl ueang (crustacean) · so carsaanyo (crustacean) · ms kepiting (crustacean) · cy cranc (crustacean) · km ក្ដាម (crustacean) · ru мандаво́шки (informal: infestation of pubic lice) · hy ծովախեցգետին (crustacean) · fa-ira خَرْچَنْگ (crustacean) · et krabi (crustacean) · gl rebasca (crustacean) · fr crabe (crustacean) · mnc ᡴᠠᡨᡠ᠋ᡵᡳ (crustacean) · sco partan (crustacean) · mrw ogagang (crustacean) · yue 螃蟹 (crustacean) · zdj djandze (crustacean) · tl alimango (crustacean) · vec granzi (crustacean) · hi केंकड़ा (crustacean) · tk leňňeç (crustacean) · bo སྡིག་སྲིན (crustacean) · ccc majchelo (crustacean) · it piattola (informal: infestation of pubic lice) · ang crabba (crustacean) · pdt Kjräft (crustacean) · bg рак (crustacean) · ban yuyu (crustacean) · kl assagiarsuk (crustacean) · nl krab (crustacean) · ary عقريش (crustacean) · rhg kiáñra (crustacean) · aii ܣܲܪܛܵܢܵܐ (crustacean) · su kebo (crustacean) · bg раздразни́телен чове́к (bad-tempered person) · io krabo (crustacean) · jje 깅이 (crustacean) · id kepiting (crustacean) · hi केकड़ा (crustacean) · tt кысла (crustacean) · eo krabo (crustacean) · mr खेकडा (crustacean) · pt siri (crustacean) · da krabbe (crustacean) · my ကဏန်း (crustacean) · kn ಏಡಿ (crustacean) · rsk рак (crustacean) · khb ᦔᦴ (crustacean) · id ketam (crustacean) · blt ꪜꪴ (crustacean) · sw kaa (crustacean) · nnt tah!quah (crustacean) · isd axama (crustacean) · dz སྦལཔ་ཀང་ཀུར (crustacean) · arz ابو جلمبو (crustacean) · acw سَرَطان (crustacean) · ps نېښي (crustacean) · gl caranguexo (crustacean) · ka კიბორჩხალა (crustacean) · sa कर्कट (crustacean) · ce краб (crustacean) · cop ⲥⲁⲣⲇⲱⲟⲛ (crustacean) · dv ކަކުނި (crustacean) · mn ᠨᠠᠢᠮᠠᠯᠵᠢ (crustacean) · acw سَلْطَعون (crustacean) · gag engeç (crustacean) · ny nkhanu (crustacean) · crh yengeç (crustacean) · vi cua (crustacean) · cdo 蠞 (crustacean) · nb krabbe (crustacean) · sdo ketap (crustacean) · kl saattuaq (crustacean) · haw pāpaʻi (crustacean) · kxd katam (crustacean) · fi mörökölli (bad-tempered person) · mnw ဗတာံ (crustacean) · jv ꦪꦸꦪꦸ (crustacean) · es jaiba (crustacean) · ak ɔkɔtɔ (crustacean) · ml ഞണ്ട് (crustacean) · sah краб (crustacean) · sh ра̏к (crustacean) · mi waerau (crustacean) · gv partan (crustacean) · bg кусур (defect rendering an object inconvenient to use) · yur ko'ses (crustacean) · mg fozakinga (crustacean) · tft horu (sea-crab) (crustacean) · bg сра́мна въ́шка (informal: infestation of pubic lice) · izh kraba (crustacean) · ajp سَلْطَعون (crustacean) · uz qisqichbaqa (crustacean) · grc καρκίνος (crustacean) · he סַרְטַן (crustacean) · lij grìtta (crustacean) · ne गँगटा (crustacean) · sv krabba (crustacean) · bsq ká (crustacean) · ch pånglao (crustacean) · pau rekung (crustacean) · es cangrejo (crustacean) · tft disawa (hermit crab) (crustacean) · kg nkala (crustacean) · lmo gamber (crustacean) · pms ganber (crustacean) · yo alákàn (crustacean) · el καβούρι (crustacean) · ka კრაბი (crustacean) · mbf kepiting (crustacean) · kix hūa (crustacean) · sh кра́ба (crustacean) · kmr kevjal (crustacean) · za baeu (crustacean) · st lekgala (crustacean) · te పీత (crustacean) · yo akàn (crustacean) · ryu 蟹 (crustacean) · scn granciu (crustacean) · crh pavra (crustacean) · mk рак (crustacean) · sh krába (crustacean) · hac قرژانگی (crustacean) · az yengəc (crustacean) · it pidocchio del pube (informal: infestation of pubic lice) · tg харчанг (crustacean) · afb قبقوب (crustacean) · nrf crabbe (crustacean) · mt granċ (crustacean) · ast cangrexu (crustacean) · ko 게 (crustacean) · hi सरतान (crustacean) · xnb 'apasʉ (crustacean) · ca carranc (crustacean) · mn хавч (crustacean) · ca cabra (informal: infestation of pubic lice) · ro crab (crustacean) · ms yuyu (crustacean) · aho 𑜆𑜥 (crustacean) · mn ᠬᠠᠪᠴᠢ (crustacean) · mnw ဂတာံ (crustacean) · syc ܣܪܛܢܐ (crustacean) · bg недъг (defect rendering an object inconvenient to use) · pcc baul (crustacean) · rcf krab (crustacean) · sq gaforre (crustacean) · lnj mbiwgh (crustacean) · mvi 蟹 (crustacean) · fr morpions (informal: infestation of pubic lice) · hu rák (crustacean) · zu inkala (crustacean) · nn krabbe (crustacean) · ga portán (crustacean) · oaa э̄мэ (crustacean) · bg крив рак (crustacean) · fi taskurapu (crustacean) · ps چنګاښ (crustacean) · hi कर्कट (crustacean) · bho केकड़ा (crustacean) · vec granso (crustacean) · fo krabbi (crustacean) · ary بوجنيبة (crustacean) · pam ema (crustacean) · nan-hbl 蟳 /𫊻 (crustacean) · bdr kabou (crustacean) · oc cranc (crustacean) · gl cangrexo (crustacean) · gl craba (crustacean) · de Krabbe (crustacean) · kzg 蟹 (crustacean) · la cancer (crustacean)