crawfish
English
Etymology
1620s, folk etymology from Middle English crevis, from Old French crevice (French écrevisse), influenced by fish.[1] Compare crayfish.
Noun
crawfish (countable and uncountable, plural crawfishes or crawfish)
- (Southern US, New York and Western US) Any of various freshwater crustaceans: crayfish.
- (South Africa) Any of various marine crustaceans, rock lobster; especially Jasus lalandii, the Cape crawfish.
- (Quebec, Canada, slang, derogatory) A slur against Anglo-Canadians used in some corners of Quebec (including the Gaspé).
Usage notes
- See the usage notes (and compare the senses) at crayfish.
Synonyms
Verb
crawfish (third-person singular simple present crawfishes, present participle crawfishing, simple past and past participle crawfished)
- (intransitive) To fish for crawfish.
- (colloquial, Southern US) To backpedal, desert or withdraw (also used with out).
- 1968, Charles Portis, True Grit:
- I have never been one to flinch or crawfish when faced with an unpleasant task.
References
- Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “crawfish”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
Further reading
- “crawfish”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
- “crawfish, n.”, in OED Online , Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
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