crab

crab

1. any chiefly marine decapod crustacean of the genus Cancer and related genera (section Brachyura), having a broad flattened carapace covering the cephalothorax, beneath which is folded the abdomen. The first pair of limbs are modified as pincers

2. any of various similar or related arthropods, such as the hermit crab and horseshoe crab

3. short for crab louse

4. Aeronautics a manoeuvre in which an aircraft flies slightly into the crosswind to compensate for drift

5. a mechanical lifting device, esp the travelling hoist of a gantry crane

6. Wrestling See Boston crab

7. catch a crab Rowing to make a stroke in which the oar either misses the water or digs too deeply, causing the rower to fall backwards

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

Crab

(religion, spiritualism, and occult)

Crab is a popular name for the sign Cancer. Its association with moody Cancer is the ultimate source of the term “crabby.”

The Astrology Book, Second Edition © 2003 Visible Ink Press®. All rights reserved.

What does it mean when you dream about a crab?

A symbol of both the sea and the sky, the crab can stand for physical nourishment from the ocean and intellectual nourishment from the interpretation of the horoscope. Claws are tenacious and clinging, which can indicate something about the relationships the dreamer is in, especially with the opposite sex.

The Dream Encyclopedia, Second Edition © 2009 Visible Ink Press®. All rights reserved.

crab

[krab]

(invertebrate zoology)

The common name for a number of crustaceans in the order Decapoda having five pairs of walking legs, with the first pair modified as chelipeds.

The common name for members of the Merostoma.

(navigation)

To drift sideways or to leeward, as a ship.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

crab

1. A short shaft or axle, mounted on a frame, having squared ends to receive hand cranks; used to wind up a rope carrying a load.

2.See crocket.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

crab

Port engine failed & aircraft tending to yaw to the port direction. The aircraft would crab if the wings are maintained level.

Crab of photograph.

i. To fly with wings level on a heading that will correct for drift from crosswinds.
ii. To fly with wings level but apply significant rudder to offset the effects of crosswind.
iii. In parachuting, it means facing one's chute on a diagonal to the wind or crosswind, similar to tacking in a sailboat.
iv. To fly with wings level but with significant yaw due to asymmetric power or thrust.
v. In aerial photography, the angle formed between the flight line and the edges of the photographs in the direction of flight. At the instant of exposure, if the focal plane of the camera is not square with the direction of flight, it causes crab of the photograph. In this process, there is some reduction of overlap as shown in the illustration.
vi. The rotation of an aircraft about its vertical axis, so as to cause the aircraft's longitudinal axis to deviate from the flight line.

An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved

crab

loves to devour oysters. [Medieval Animal Symbolism: White, 210–211]

See: Gluttony

Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Crab

(dreams)

At first glance a crab seems to be a very negative dream symbol. It could represent a “crabby” or unpleasant personality. The claws could be symbolic of a clinging and hurtful person, or a side of your own personality. There may be too much dependence, clinging and forcefulness in your life. The crab may also symbolize your inability to effectively move forward and address your own difficulties. (Remember the crab often moves sideways or backwards.) Some folklore interpretations say that the crab is an omen of poor health. However, there is a more positive interpretation for the crab in your dream. In some areas of metaphysics, the crab is a representative of the sea and the sky. It represents physical nourishment that can be obtained from the sea and also intellectual nourishment. As with all water dwelling animals, the crab could also represent something in the unconscious and the emotions.

Bedside Dream Dictionary by Silvana Amar Copyright © 2007 by Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.