Crab apple

Crab apple
Crab Crab (kr[a^]b), n. [AS. crabba; akin to D. krab, G. krabbe, krebs, Icel. krabbi, Sw. krabba, Dan. krabbe, and perh. to E. cramp. Cf. {Crawfish}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) One of the brachyuran Crustacea. They are mostly marine, and usually have a broad, short body, covered with a strong shell or carapace. The abdomen is small and curled up beneath the body. [1913 Webster]

Note: The name is applied to all the Brachyura, and to certain Anomura, as the hermit crabs. Formerly, it was sometimes applied to Crustacea in general. Many species are edible, the blue crab of the Atlantic coast being one of the most esteemed. The large European edible crab is {Cancer padurus}. {Soft-shelled crabs} are blue crabs that have recently cast their shells. See {Cancer}; also, {Box crab}, {Fiddler crab}, {Hermit crab}, {Spider crab}, etc., under {Box}, {Fiddler}. etc. [1913 Webster]

2. The zodiacal constellation Cancer. [1913 Webster]

3. [See {Crab}, a.] (Bot.) A crab apple; -- so named from its harsh taste. [1913 Webster]

When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl, Then nightly sings the staring owl. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. A cudgel made of the wood of the crab tree; a crabstick. [Obs.] --Garrick. [1913 Webster]

5. (Mech.) (a) A movable winch or windlass with powerful gearing, used with derricks, etc. (b) A form of windlass, or geared capstan, for hauling ships into dock, etc. (c) A machine used in ropewalks to stretch the yarn. (d) A claw for anchoring a portable machine. [1913 Webster]

{Calling crab}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Fiddler}., n., 2.

{Crab apple}, a small, sour apple, of several kinds; also, the tree which bears it; as, the European crab apple ({Pyrus Malus} var. sylvestris); the Siberian crab apple ({Pyrus baccata}); and the American ({Pyrus coronaria}).

{Crab grass}. (Bot.) (a) A grass ({Digitaria sanguinalis} syn. {Panicum sanguinalis}); -- called also {finger grass}. (b) A grass of the genus {Eleusine} ({Eleusine Indica}); -- called also {dog's-tail grass}, {wire grass}, etc.

{Crab louse} (Zo["o]l.), a species of louse ({Phthirius pubis}), sometimes infesting the human body.

{Crab plover} (Zo["o]l.), an Asiatic plover ({Dromas ardeola}).

{Crab's eyes}, or {Crab's stones}, masses of calcareous matter found, at certain seasons of the year, on either side of the stomach of the European crawfishes, and formerly used in medicine for absorbent and antacid purposes; the gastroliths.

{Crab spider} (Zo["o]l.), one of a group of spiders ({Laterigrad[ae]}); -- called because they can run backwards or sideways like a crab.

{Crab tree}, the tree that bears crab applies.

{Crab wood}, a light cabinet wood obtained in Guiana, which takes a high polish. --McElrath.

{To catch a crab} (Naut.), a phrase used of a rower: (a) when he fails to raise his oar clear of the water; (b) when he misses the water altogether in making a stroke. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • crab apple — crab .apple n [Date: 1400 1500; Origin: Perhaps from CRAB] a small sour apple, or the tree it grows on …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • crab apple — crab apples N COUNT A crab apple is a tree like an apple tree that produces small sour fruit …   English dictionary

  • crab apple — n. 1. any of several species of small, very sour apples (genus Malus), growing wild or cultivated and used for making jellies and preserves 2. a tree bearing crab apples: also crab tree …   English World dictionary

  • crab-apple — crabˈ apple noun • • • Main Entry: ↑crab …   Useful english dictionary

  • crab apple — crab ,apple noun count or uncount a very small sour apple …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • crab apple — ► NOUN ▪ a small, sour kind of apple. ORIGIN perhaps an alteration of Scots and northern English scrab …   English terms dictionary

  • crab apple — noun 1. any of numerous varieties of crab apples cultivated for their small acidic (usually bright red) fruit used for preserves or as ornamentals for their blossoms • Syn: ↑crabapple, ↑cultivated crab apple • Hypernyms: ↑apple tree • Hyponyms:… …   Useful english dictionary

  • crab apple — UK / US noun [countable/uncountable] Word forms crab apple : singular crab apple plural crab apples a very small sour apple …   English dictionary

  • crab apple — miškinė obelis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Erškėtinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, vaistinis augalas (Malus sylvestris), paplitęs Europoje. atitikmenys: lot. Malus sylvestris angl. crab apple; European crab apple šaltinis Valstybinės lietuvių… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • crab apple — slyvalapė obelis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Erškėtinių šeimos dekoratyvinis augalas (Malus prunifolia), paplitęs Kinijoje. atitikmenys: lot. Malus prunifolia angl. Chinese apple; Chinese apple tree; crab apple; pearleaf crabapple; plum …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

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