crab

I

[[t]kræb[/t]]

n. v. crabbed, crab•bing

1) ivt any decapod crustacean of the suborder Brachyura, having a wide and flattened body, with a small abdomen folded under the thorax

2) ivt any of various crablike arthropods, as the horseshoe crab

3) astron. (cap.)

cancer 3)

4) astron. (cap.) the CrabNebula

5) a mechanical contrivance for hoisting or pulling heavy weights

6) aer. a maneuver in which an aircraft is headed partly into the wind to compensate for drift

7) ent

crab louse

8) crabs

pediculosis

9) to fish for crabs

10) to move sideways with short bursts of speed; scuttle

11) aer. (of an aircraft) to head partly into the wind to compensate for drift

12) to move (a vehicle or object) sideways or obliquely, esp. with short, abrupt movements

13) aer. to head (an aircraft) partly into the wind to compensate for drift

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Etymology: bef. 1000; ME crabbe, OE crabba, c. MLG, MD krabbe, ON krabbi; akin to OSkrebit, OHG chrebiz crab′ber, n. crab′like`, adj. II

crab

[[t]kræb[/t]] n.

pln a crab apple fruit or tree

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Etymology: 1300–50; orig. uncert. III

crab

[[t]kræb[/t]] n. v. crabbed, crab•bing

1) an ill-tempered person

2) to find fault; complain

3) to make ill-tempered

4) to find fault with

5) to spoil; ruin

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Etymology: 1350–1400; ME; back formation from crabbed crab′ber, n.