any decapod crustacean of the suborder Brachyura, having the eyes on short stalks and a short, broad, more or less flattened body, the abdomen being small and folded under the thorax.
2.
any of various other crustaceans, as the hermit crab, or other animals, as the horseshoe crab, resembling the true crabs.
3.
(initial capital letter) Astronomy,Astrology. the zodiacal constellation or sign Cancer.
4.
(initial capital letter) Astronomy. the Crab Nebula.
5.
any of various mechanical contrivances for hoisting or pulling.
6.
Aeronautics. the maneuver of crabbing.
7.
Informal. the crab louse. See under louse(def. 1).
8.
crabs,
a.
(used with a singular verb) a losing throw, as two aces, in the game of hazard.
Any of various predominantly marine crustaceans of the division Brachyura within the order Decapoda, characterized by a broad flattened cephalothorax covered by a hard carapace with a small abdomen concealed beneath it, short antennae, and five pairs of legs, of which the anterior pair are large and pincerlike.
Any of various similar related crustaceans, such as the hermit crab or king crab.
A horseshoe crab.
A crab louse.
crabsSlang Infestation by crab lice.
A crab louse.
crabsSlang Infestation by crab lice.
The maneuvering of an aircraft partially into a crosswind to compensate for drift.
A machine for handling or hoisting heavy weights.
v.
crabbed, crab·bing, crabs
v.
intr.
To hunt or catch crabs.
To scurry sideways in the manner of a crab.
To drift diagonally or sideways, especially when under tow.
To direct an aircraft into a crosswind.
v.
tr.
To direct (an aircraft) partly into a crosswind to eliminate drift.
To cause to move or scurry sideways.
[Middle English crabbe, from Old English crabba; see gerbh- in Indo-European roots.]
Crab"bed\ (kr?b"b?d), a. [See Crab,n.]1. Characterized by or manifesting, sourness, peevishness, or moroseness; harsh; cross; cynical; -- applied to feelings, disposition, or manners. Crabbed age and youth can not live together. --Shak. 2. Characterized by harshness or roughness; unpleasant; -- applied to things; as, a crabbed taste. 3. Obscure; difficult; perplexing; trying; as, a crabbed author. "Crabbed eloquence." --Chaucer. How charming is divine philosophy! Not harsh and crabbed, as dull fools suppose. --Milton. 4. Cramped; irregular; as, crabbed handwriting. -- Crab"bed*ly, adv. -- Crab"bed*ness, n.
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