crabbing

Variant of crab

crab definition

crab (krab)

noun

  1. any of various decapods with four pairs of legs, one pair of pincers, a flattish shell, and a short, broad abdomen folded under its thorax
  2. any of other similar arthropods, as the horseshoe crab
  3. the edible part of a crab
    1. crab louse
    2. Informal infestation by crab lice: often with the
  5. any of various machines for hoisting heavy weights
  6. Aeron. the apparent sideways motion of an aircraft with respect to the ground when headed into a crosswind

Etymology: ME crabbe < OE crabba < IE base *grebh-, *gerebh-, to scratch: see graphic

intransitive verb crabbed, crabbing crab′·bing

to fish for crabs; catch crabs

transitive verb

Aeron. to head (an aircraft) into a crosswind in order to counteract drift, thus causing apparent sideways motion with respect to the ground

Related Forms:

crab Idioms

catch a crab

Rowing to fail to clear the water on the recovery stroke accidentally, thereby unbalancing the boat or impeding its movement

the Crab

Cancer, the constellation and fourth sign of the zodiac

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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