crayfish
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Alternative forms [edit]
Etymology [edit]
Alteration (by folk-etymology, influenced by fish) of Middle English crevis, from Old French crevice ("crayfish"; > Modern French: écrevisse), from Old Frankish *krebitja (“crayfish”), diminutive of Old Frankish *krebit (“crab”), from Proto-Germanic *krabitaz (“crab, cancer”), from Proto-Indo-European *grebʰ-, *gerebʰ- (“to scratch, crawl”). Akin to Old High German krebiz ("edible crustacean, crab"; > Modern German Krebs (“crab”)), Middle Low German krēvet (“crab”), Dutch kreeft (“crayfish, lobster”), Old English crabba (“crab”). More at crab.
Pronunciation [edit]
Noun [edit]
crayfish (plural crayfishes or crayfish)
- A freshwater crustacean (Cambaridae) resembling a small lobster, sometimes used as an inexpensive seafood or as fish bait.
- (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa) A rock lobster.
Synonyms [edit]
Translations [edit]
freshwater crustacean resembling lobster
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