crabwise

[ krab-wahyz ]
/ ˈkræbˌwaɪz /

adverb

sideways: patrons edging crabwise along the crowded row of theater seats.

Origin of crabwise

First recorded in 1900–05; crab1 + -wise

Example sentences from the Web for crabwise

  • "Oh—well—gee—of course—" sighed Graff, as he went out, crabwise.

    Babbitt |Sinclair Lewis
  • Mr. Wayne stiffened and wheeled; Mr. Briggs sidled hastily toward the doorway, crabwise; the poet choked back the word, Phup!

    Iole |Robert W. Chambers
  • Instead, he sidled, crabwise, into the middle of the street.

    H. R. |Edwin Lefevre

British Dictionary definitions for crabwise

crabwise
/ (ˈkræbˌwaɪz) /

adjective, adverb

(of motion) sideways; like a crab