crabkræb(n.; v.)crabbed, crab•bing.

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

   Category: Invertebrates

2. any of various crablike arthropods, as the horseshoe crab.

   Category: Invertebrates

3. (cap.)

   Category: Astronomy

   Ref: cancer (def. 3). 3

4. (cap.) the CrabNebula.

   Category: Astronomy

5. a mechanical contrivance for hoisting or pulling heavy weights.

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

   Category: Aeronautics

7. Category: Entomology

   Ref: crab louse.

8. crabs,

   Ref: pediculosis .

9. (v.i.)to fish for crabs.

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

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

    Category: Aeronautics

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

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

    Category: Aeronautics

Origin of crab:

bef. 1000; ME crabbe, OE crabba, c. MLG, MD krabbe, ON krabbi; akin to OS krebit, OHG chrebiz

crab′like`(adj.)

crabkræb(n.)

1. a crab apple fruit or tree.

   Category: Plants

Origin of crab:

1300–50; orig. uncert.

crabkræb(n.; v.)crabbed, crab•bing.

1. (n.)an ill-tempered person.

2. (v.i.)to find fault; complain.

3. (v.t.)to make ill-tempered.

4. to find fault with.

5. to spoil; ruin.

Origin of crab:

1350–1400; ME; back formation from crabbed

crab′ber(n.)