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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

crawfish en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈkɹɔˌfɪʃ/
  • (Australia) audio

Etymology

1620s, folk etymology (compare crawl) from Middle English crevis, from Old French crevice (“crab”) (French écrevisse), influenced by fish. Compare crayfish.

Meanings

  1. (Louisiana, Southern-US, Texas, US, Western, countable, especially, qualifier:Midwest, uncountable) Any of various freshwater crustaceans: crayfish.
  2. (South-Africa, countable, uncountable) Any of various marine crustaceans, rock lobster; especially Jasus lalandii, the Cape crawfish.
  3. (Canada, Quebec, countable, derogatory, slang, uncountable) An English-Canadian. Used in some corners of Quebec (including the Gaspé).

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
crawfishes Number=Plur lexicographic
crawfish Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

crawchie · crawfishy

Synonyms

crawldad · crawlfish · crawdad · yabby · mudbug · crayfish

crawfish en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • /ˈkɹɔˌfɪʃ/
  • (Australia) audio

Etymology

1620s, folk etymology (compare crawl) from Middle English crevis, from Old French crevice (“crab”) (French écrevisse), influenced by fish. Compare crayfish.

Meanings

  1. (intransitive) To fish for crawfish.
    • As a matter of fact I had to go off at a moment's notice to arrange our connection at the coast. Fellow owning the bungalow wanted to crawfish. 1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London:
  2. (Southern-US, colloquial, intransitive) To backpedal, desert or withdraw (also used with out).
    • I have never been one to flinch or crawfish when faced with an unpleasant task. 1968, Charles Portis, True Grit:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
crawfishes Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
crawfishing Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
crawfished Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
crawfished Tense=Past lexicographic

Translations (1)

es recular (to backpedal)