I. ˈkrab noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English crabbe, from Old English crabba; akin to Old High German krebiz crab and perhaps to Old English ceorfan to carve — more at carve
Date: before 12th century
1. plural crabs also crab : any of numerous chiefly marine broadly built decapod crustaceans:
a. : any of an infraorder (Brachyura) with a short broad usually flattened carapace, a small abdomen that curls forward beneath the body, short antennae, and the anterior pair of limbs modified as grasping pincers
b. : any of various crustaceans of an infraorder (Anomura) resembling true crabs in the more or less reduced condition of the abdomen
2. capitalized : cancer 1
3. plural : infestation with crab lice
4. : the angular difference between an aircraft's course and the heading necessary to make that course in the presence of a crosswind
II. verb
( crabbed ; crab·bing )
Date: 1657
intransitive verb
1. : to fish for crabs
2.
a.
(1) : to move sideways indirectly or diagonally
(2) : to crab an airplane
b. : to scuttle or scurry sideways
transitive verb
1. : to cause to move sideways or in an indirect or diagonal manner ; specifically : to head (an airplane) into a crosswind to counteract drift
2. : to subject to crabbing
• crab·ber noun
III. noun
Etymology: Middle English crabbe, perhaps from crabbe crab (I)
Date: 14th century
: crab apple
IV. noun
Date: 1580
: an ill-tempered person : grouch
V. verb
( crabbed ; crab·bing )
Etymology: Middle English crabben, probably back-formation from crabbed
Date: 1662
transitive verb
1. : to make sullen : sour
old age has crabbed his nature
2. : to complain about peevishly
3. : spoil , ruin
intransitive verb
: carp , grouse
always crab s about the weather
• crab·ber noun