Crab plover

Crab plover
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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  • Crab-plover — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3 …   Wikipedia

  • Crab Plover — Taxobox name = Crab Plover status = LC | status system = IUCN3.1 regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves ordo = Charadriiformes familia = Dromadidae familia authority = GR Gray, 1840 genus = Dromas genus authority = Paykull, 1805… …   Wikipedia

  • crab plover — drominiai statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Dromadidae angl. crab plover ryšiai: platesnis terminas – sėjikiniai paukščiai siauresnis terminas – krabiniai sėjikai …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • crab plover — krabiniai sėjikai statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Dromas angl. crab plover vok. Reiherläufer, m pranc. drome ardéole, f ryšiai: platesnis terminas – drominiai siauresnis terminas – krabinis sėjikas …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • crab plover — krabinis sėjikas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Dromas ardeola angl. crab plover vok. Reiherläufer, m pranc. drome ardéole, f ryšiai: platesnis terminas – krabiniai sėjikai …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • crab plover — ▪ bird  (species Dromas ardeola), long legged, black and white bird of Indian Ocean coasts, related to plovers and allied species of shorebirds. It comprises the family Dromadidae (order Charadriiformes). Crab plovers are tame, noisy birds about… …   Universalium

  • crab plover — noun : a bird (Dromas ardeola) like a plover widely distributed along the east coast of Africa and the southern shores of Asia where it feeds chiefly on crabs and burrows into sandbanks to deposit its single white egg …   Useful english dictionary

  • crab-plover — /krab pluv euhr, ploh veuhr/, n. a black and white wading bird, Dromas ardeola, of the northern and western shores of the Indian Ocean. [so called from its diet] * * * …   Universalium

  • crab-plover — /krab pluv euhr, ploh veuhr/, n. a black and white wading bird, Dromas ardeola, of the northern and western shores of the Indian Ocean. [so called from its diet] …   Useful english dictionary

  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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