crab etymology

Etymology:

The word "crab" has multiple origins:

• Middle English: "crabb"
• Old English: "crabbe"
• Proto-Germanic: "*krabbô"
• Possible Indo-European root: "*ghrebh-," meaning "to seize"

Meaning:

• Any of numerous aquatic crustaceans of the order Decapoda, characterized by a hard exoskeleton, a short, broad body, and five pairs of legs (eight walking legs and two claws).

Origin:

The term "crab" likely evolved from Proto-Germanic "krabbô," which may have been onomatopoeic, imitating the sound made by a crab's claws. Alternatively, it may derive from the Indo-European root "ghrebh-," meaning "to seize," referring to the crab's ability to grab and hold its prey with its claws.

Usage:

The word "crab" is commonly used to refer to:

• Edible crustaceans, such as the blue crab and king crab
• Non-edible marine crustaceans
• A person with a crabby or irritable disposition
• A derogatory term for a male in some varieties of Jamaican Patois

crab relate terms

• carve

  Etymology Middle English carven to cut wood or stone Old English ceorfan to cu

• carving

  Etymology The word carve comes from the Old English word ceorfan which means to cu

• crabbed

  Etymology From Middle English crabbed from Old English crabboð from Vulgar Latin cra

• crab

  Etymology The word crab has multiple origins Middle English crabb Old English

• crab

  Etymology The word crab has multiple origins Middle English crabb Old English

• crabgrass

  Etymology Crabgrass derives its name from two sources Crab The seed heads of crabgra

• crawl

  Etymology Middle English crawlen from Old English crawlian Proto Germanic krawlija

• crayfish

  Etymology The word crayfish is derived from Middle English crayfyssh which in turn

• monoceros

  Etymology The word monoceros is derived from the Greek words mono meaning one and

• chelicerae

  Etymology The term chelicerae is derived from two Greek words Cheilos Meaning lip

• jack in the box

  Etymology The term jack in the box has its origins in the 16th century when it referre

• squeeze

  Etymology The word squeeze comes from the Middle English word squisen which is in t

• fish

  Etymology The word fish originates from the Proto Indo European root peisk meaning

• guide

  Etymology The word guide originates from the Old French word guier which itself come