What does crab mean?
Crab most commonly refers to a marine or freshwater crustacean with a hard, broad shell, ten legs, and a pair of claws. The word can also name the meat of this animal, as in phrases such as "crab legs" and "crab cakes." As an informal noun, a crab is a person who complains excessively or makes others annoyed; as a verb, to crab means to grumble or complain persistently, and it can also mean to irritate someone. A separate verb sense describes moving sideways, in imitation of a crab's characteristic gait. These meanings are standard across English, although the figurative complaint-related senses are especially informal and can sound critical in context. Crab is a useful word because it connects an ordinary animal and food with a vivid description of sideways movement and a familiar social behavior: persistent complaining. Its several meanings make it especially effective in descriptions of food, coastal life, and everyday frustration.
A crustacean with a broad, hard shell, ten legs, and two claws; the term can also refer to the meat of this animal. Informally, it can mean a person who is persistently complainful or difficult to please.
"The restaurant serves grilled crab with garlic and lemon."
The animal and food senses are standard. The person sense is informal and often disparaging.
To move sideways, especially in the manner of a crab; to complain or grumble persistently; or to annoy or irritate someone.
"The crab crabbed sideways across the wet sand."
The senses meaning to complain and to irritate are informal; the sideways-movement sense is less common and often descriptive.
The standard plural is "crabs." When referring generally to the meat, "crab" can be used as a mass noun, as in "crab salad."
"The fishermen brought in a basket of fresh crabs."
A crab may look awkward in its sideways walk, but that unusual gait lets it move quickly along the sea floor.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does crab come from?
The noun comes from Old English crabbe, a Germanic word for the crustacean, with cognates in Dutch krab, German Krebs, and Old Norse krabi. The verb's sideways-movement sense developed from the animal's distinctive gait. The sense meaning to complain emerged later in English and is now common chiefly in informal usage.
Related word forms
How crab is actually used
The animal and food senses are standard in British and American English. The senses meaning a chronic complainer and the verb meaning to complain are informal and often somewhat critical. The verb meaning to annoy is also informal, as in "Don't crab me."
Easily confused with crab
Grab means to seize or take hold of something, whereas crab refers to a crustacean or, as a verb, to complaining or moving sideways.
Carp is a freshwater fish, while crab is a crustacean with a hard shell and claws.