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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
crab·bed    Audio Help   [krab-id] Pronunciation Key
–adjective
1.grouchy; ill-natured; irritable; churlish.
2.perverse; contrary; obstinate.
3.hard to understand; intricate and obscure.
4.difficult to read or decipher, as handwriting.

[Origin: 1250–1300; ME; see crab1, -ed3]

crab·bed·ly, adverb
crab·bed·ness, noun

1. cross, peevish, cantankerous.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
crabbed

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© 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
crab1    Audio Help   [krab] Pronunciation Key noun, verb, crabbed, crab·bing.
–noun
1.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.
b.pediculosis.
–verb (used without object)
9.to catch or attempt to catch crabs.
10.to move sideways, diagonally, or obliquely, esp. with short, abrupt bursts of speed; scuttle.
11.Aeronautics. (of an aircraft) to head partly into the wind to compensate for drift.
12.Nautical. to drift or advance with some movement sideways, esp. when under tow.
–verb (used with object)
13.to move (a vehicle or object) sideways, diagonally, or obliquely, esp. with short, abrupt movements.
14.Aeronautics. to head (an aircraft) partly into the wind to compensate for drift.
15.catch a crab, to make a faulty stroke in rowing, so that the oar strikes the water forcibly on the backstroke.

[Origin: bef. 1000; ME crabbe, OE crabba; c. D krab, ON krabbi; akin to G Krebs]

crablike, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
crab3    Audio Help   [krab] Pronunciation Key noun, verb, crabbed, crab·bing.
–noun
1.Informal. an ill-tempered or grouchy person.
–verb (used without object)
2.Informal. to find fault; complain.
3.(of hawks) to claw each other.
–verb (used with object)
4.Informal. to find fault with.
5.to make ill-tempered or grouchy; embitter.
6.(of a hawk) to claw (another hawk).
7.Slang. to spoil.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME; back formation from crabbed]

crabber, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
crab 1    Audio Help   (krāb)  Pronunciation Key 
n.  
    1. 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.
    2. Any of various similar related crustaceans, such as the hermit crab or king crab.
    3. A horseshoe crab.
    4. A crab louse.
    5. crabs Slang Infestation by crab lice.
    1. A crab louse.
    2. crabs Slang Infestation by crab lice.
  1. The maneuvering of an aircraft partially into a crosswind to compensate for drift.
  2. A machine for handling or hoisting heavy weights.

v.   crabbed, crab·bing, crabs

v.   intr.
  1. To hunt or catch crabs.
  2. To scurry sideways in the manner of a crab.
  3. To drift diagonally or sideways, especially when under tow.
  4. To direct an aircraft into a crosswind.

v.   tr.
  1. To direct (an aircraft) partly into a crosswind to eliminate drift.
  2. To cause to move or scurry sideways.


[Middle English crabbe, from Old English crabba; see gerbh- in Indo-European roots.]

crab·ber n.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
crab 2    Audio Help   (krāb)  Pronunciation Key 
n.  
  1. A crab apple tree or its fruit.
  2. A quarrelsome, ill-tempered person.

v.   crabbed, crab·bing, crabs

v.   intr. Informal
To find fault; criticize someone or something.

v.   tr.
  1. Informal To interfere with and ruin; spoil.
  2. Informal To find fault with; complain about.
  3. To make ill-tempered or sullen.


[Middle English crabbe, possibly from crabbe, crab (shellfish); see crab1.]

crab'ber n.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
crab·bed    Audio Help   (krāb'ĭd)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.  
  1. Irritable and perverse in disposition; ill-tempered.
  2. Difficult to understand; complicated.
  3. Difficult to read; cramped: crabbed handwriting.


[Middle English, from crabbe, crab (influenced by crab2); see crab1.]

crab'bed·ly adv., crab'bed·ness n.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
crabbed

adjective
annoyed and irritable 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Crabbed

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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