- Homarus vulgaris
- Lobster Lob"ster, n. [AS. loppestre, lopystre prob., corrupted
fr. L. locusta a marine shellfish, a kind of lobster, a
locust. Cf. {Locust}.] (Zo["o]l.)
1. Any large macrurous crustacean used as food, esp. those of
the genus {Homarus}; as the American lobster ({Homarus
Americanus}), and the European lobster ({Homarus
vulgaris}). The Norwegian lobster ({Nephrops Norvegicus})
is similar in form. All these have a pair of large unequal
claws. The spiny lobsters of more southern waters,
belonging to {Palinurus}, {Panulirus}, and allied genera,
have no large claws. The fresh-water crayfishes are
sometimes called lobsters.
[1913 Webster]
2. As a term of opprobrium or contempt: A gullible, awkward, bungling, or undesirable person. [Slang] [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
{Lobster caterpillar} (Zo["o]l.), the caterpillar of a European bombycid moth ({Stauropus fagi}); -- so called from its form.
{Lobster louse} (Zo["o]l.), a copepod crustacean ({Nicotho["e] astaci}) parasitic on the gills of the European lobster. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
