hairy crab

noun

: any of various crabs having the carapace or legs covered with setae
especially : chinese mitten crab
Hairy crabs used to be widely sold in the USA but are now largely banned as an invasive species—although they can still be found swimming in the waters off California and the Chesapeake Bay. Michelle Yun, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2010
… marine scientists from the Chesapeake Bay to the Thames have declared the hairy crab, with its dark olive carapace and bristly legs, a menace to local ecosystems … Sharon Silva, Gourmet, May 2007
As with most other kinds of revered Chinese foods, there's a whole ritual surrounding the appreciation of these hairy crabs and their roe, including what's the best drink to go with them. Business Times (Singapore), 29 Oct. 2007

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near hairy crab

Cite this Entry

“Hairy crab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hairy%20crab. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!