crawfish
English edit
Etymology edit
Folk etymology from Middle English crevis, from Old French crevice, influenced by fish. Compare crayfish, French écrevisse.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
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).
Synonyms edit
Translations edit
crayfish — see crayfish
slur against Anglo-Canadians in parts of Quebec
Verb edit
crawfish (third-person singular simple present crawfishes, present participle crawfishing, simple past and past participle crawfished)
- (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.
Translations edit
References edit
Further reading edit
- “crawfish”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
- “crawfish, n.”, in OED Online , Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.