CRAB, CRABBING
NOUNS
► BITER the claw of a crab → 1952 Amer. dial.
► BUSTER a crab or crayfish about to break free of its shell → 1879 US crab fishing usage
► CANCER a crab → 1562
► CANKER a crab → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CART the carapace of a crab → M19
► CRABLET a small or young crab → 1841
► CRABLING a small or young crab → 1822
► DEAD MAN the inedible gills of a crab → 1899 Amer. dial.
► DEADMAN’S FINGERS the gills or lungs of a crab, considered poisonous → 1880s African-American sl.
► DEVIL CRAB a king crab → 1970 Amer. dial.
► HEAVER a crab → 1790 Eng. dial.
► JACK-IN-THE-BOX a hermit crab → 1901 US fishing usage (Bk.)
► PARTAN a crab, esp. the common crab, Cancer pagurus; the shore crab, Carcinus moenas → c1425 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
► PARTAN BREE crab soup → 1909 Sc.
► PARTAN-CAGE a crab trap → 1899 Sc.
► PARTAN’S-TAE a crab’s claw → 1822 Sc.
► PARTAN-TOE a crab’s claw → 1568
► PATT a crab → 1730 Eng. dial. obs.
► PENNYWINKLE a hermit crab → 1930 Amer. dial.
► SAND-BAG the stomach of a crab → 1895
► WHALE CRAB a very large crab → 1965 Amer. dial.
► WHALE a very large crab → 1981 Amer. dial.
NOUNS – PERSON
► CHICKEN NECKER an amateur who interlopes on professional crabbers → 1976 Amer. dial., derogatory
VERBS
► MUDLARK to catch or dig up crabs on mud flats or marshes → 1905 Amer. dial.
Lexicophilia 