crabbing

[ krab-ing ]

/ ˈkræb ɪŋ /

noun

the activity or occupation of fishing for crabs.

a finishing process for reducing shrinkage and creasing of woolens and worsteds by stretching the fabric on a rotating cylinder and immersing in hot or, sometimes, cold water.

Aeronautics. the maneuver of heading partly into the wind to compensate for drift.

Origin of crabbing

First recorded in 1870–75; crab¹ + -ing¹

Words nearby crabbing

crab-plover, crabb, crabbe, crabbed, crabber, crabbing, crabby, crabeater, crabmeat, crabs, crabstick

Definition for crabbing (2 of 3)

crab ¹

[ krab ]

/ kræb /

noun

any decapod crustacean of the suborder Brachyura, having the eyes on short stalks and a short, broad, more or less flattened body, the abdomen being small and folded under the thorax.

any of various other crustaceans, as the hermit crab, or other animals, as the horseshoe crab, resembling the true crabs.

(initial capital letter) Astronomy, Astrology. the zodiacal constellation or sign Cancer.

(initial capital letter) Astronomy. the Crab Nebula.

any of various mechanical contrivances for hoisting or pulling.

Aeronautics. the maneuver of crabbing.

Informal. the crab louse. See under louse(def 1).

crabs,

(used with a singular verb) a losing throw, as two aces, in the game of hazard.
pediculosis.

verb (used without object), crabbed, crab·bing.

to catch or attempt to catch crabs.

to move sideways, diagonally, or obliquely, especially with short, abrupt bursts of speed; scuttle.

Aeronautics. (of an aircraft) to head partly into the wind to compensate for drift.

Nautical. to drift or advance with some movement sideways, especially when under tow.

verb (used with object), crabbed, crab·bing.

to move (a vehicle or object) sideways, diagonally, or obliquely, especially with short, abrupt movements.

Aeronautics. to head (an aircraft) partly into the wind to compensate for drift.

Origin of crab

before 1000; Middle English crabbe, Old English crabba; cognate with Dutch krab, Old Norse krabbi; akin to German Krebs

OTHER WORDS FROM crab

crab·like, adjective

Definition for crabbing (3 of 3)

crab ³

[ krab ]

/ kræb /

noun

Informal. an ill-tempered or grouchy person.

verb (used without object), crabbed, crab·bing.

Informal. to find fault; complain.

(of hawks) to claw each other.

verb (used with object), crabbed, crab·bing.

Informal. to find fault with.

to make ill-tempered or grouchy; embitter.

(of a hawk) to claw (another hawk).

Slang. to spoil.

Origin of crab

1350–1400; Middle English; back formation from crabbed

OTHER WORDS FROM crab

crab·ber, noun

Example sentences from the Web for crabbing

There are often provocations in the area in the spring as crabbing season begins.

The Ominous Meaning of North Korea’s Missile Launches |Gordon G. Chang |February 28, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
After crabbing, the pieces are washed or “scoured” in soap either on the winch or at full width.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 3 |Various
Come on, here is where we hire our boat, and get our crabbing outfit.

The Girl Scouts at Sea Crest |Lillian Garis
Emma Tash certainly was a very different person in her crabbing disguise.

Missing at Marshlands |Cleo Garis

So intent were the girls on their crabbing game they had not noticed the other craft drifting about them.

The Girl Scouts at Sea Crest |Lillian Garis
She was able to forget Harold's myopic wanderings in the pleasure of crabbing her youngest brother.

Poor Relations |Compton Mackenzie

British Dictionary definitions for crabbing (1 of 4)

Crab

/ (kræb) /

noun

the Crab the constellation Cancer, the fourth sign of the zodiac

British Dictionary definitions for crabbing (2 of 4)

crab ¹

/ (kræb) /

noun

any chiefly marine decapod crustacean of the genus Cancer and related genera (section Brachyura), having a broad flattened carapace covering the cephalothorax, beneath which is folded the abdomen. The first pair of limbs are modified as pincers See also fiddler crab, soft-shell crab, pea crab, oyster crab Related adjective: cancroid

any of various similar or related arthropods, such as the hermit crab and horseshoe crab

short for crab louse

a manoeuvre in which an aircraft flies slightly into the crosswind to compensate for drift

a mechanical lifting device, esp the travelling hoist of a gantry crane

wrestling See Boston crab

catch a crab rowing to make a stroke in which the oar either misses the water or digs too deeply, causing the rower to fall backwards

verb crabs, crabbing or crabbed

(intr) to hunt or catch crabs

(tr) to fly (an aircraft) slightly into a crosswind to compensate for drift

(intr) nautical to move forwards with a slight sideways motion, as to overcome an offsetting current

(intr) to move sideways

Word Origin for crab

Old English crabba; related to Old Norse krabbi, Old High German krebiz crab, Dutch krabben to scratch

British Dictionary definitions for crabbing (3 of 4)

crab ²

/ (kræb) informal /

verb crabs, crabbing or crabbed

(intr) to find fault; grumble

(tr) mainly US to spoil (esp in the phrase crab someone's act)

noun

an irritable person

draw the crabs Australian to attract unwelcome attention

Word Origin for crab

C16: probably back formation from crabbed

British Dictionary definitions for crabbing (4 of 4)

crab ³

/ (kræb) /

noun

short for crab apple

Word Origin for crab

C15: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish skrabbe crab apple

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

crabbing

noun

Origin of crabbing

Words nearby crabbing

Definition for crabbing (2 of 3)

noun

verb (used without object), crabbed, crab·bing.

verb (used with object), crabbed, crab·bing.

Origin of crab

OTHER WORDS FROM crab

Definition for crabbing (3 of 3)

noun

verb (used without object), crabbed, crab·bing.

verb (used with object), crabbed, crab·bing.

Origin of crab

OTHER WORDS FROM crab

Example sentences from the Web for crabbing

British Dictionary definitions for crabbing (1 of 4)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for crabbing (2 of 4)

noun

verb crabs, crabbing or crabbed

Word Origin for crab

British Dictionary definitions for crabbing (3 of 4)

verb crabs, crabbing or crabbed

noun

Word Origin for crab

British Dictionary definitions for crabbing (4 of 4)

noun

Word Origin for crab

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

crabbing

noun

Origin of crabbing

Words nearby crabbing

Definition for crabbing (2 of 3)

noun

verb (used without object), crabbed, crab·bing.

verb (used with object), crabbed, crab·bing.

Origin of crab

OTHER WORDS FROM crab

Definition for crabbing (3 of 3)

noun

verb (used without object), crabbed, crab·bing.

verb (used with object), crabbed, crab·bing.

Origin of crab

OTHER WORDS FROM crab

Words related to crabbing

Example sentences from the Web for crabbing

British Dictionary definitions for crabbing (1 of 4)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for crabbing (2 of 4)

noun

verb crabs, crabbing or crabbed

Word Origin for crab

British Dictionary definitions for crabbing (3 of 4)

verb crabs, crabbing or crabbed

noun

Word Origin for crab

British Dictionary definitions for crabbing (4 of 4)

noun

Word Origin for crab