hard-shell crab

noun

: a crab that has not recently shed its shell

called also hard-shelled crab

Examples of hard-shell crab in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Like hard-shell crabs, neck bones require a little effort to enjoy, given that some of the prime eating is in their nooks and crannies. — Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 12 June 2019 The crabs have a rich, delicate flavor and can be fried and eaten whole in their soft-shell form, eliminating the tedious task of picking meat out of limbs, as with hard-shell crabs. — Laura Poppick, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hard-shell crab was in 1856

Rhymes for hard-shell crab

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Browse Nearby Words

hard-shell clam
hard-shell crab
hardship
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hard-shell crab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hard-shell%20crab. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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