blue crab

noun

: a large bluish-green edible crab (Callinectes sapidus of the family Portunidae) of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts

Illustration of blue crab

Illustration of blue crab

Examples of blue crab in a Sentence

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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.
Visitors are encouraged to try catching blue crabs; hunting for bay scallops; or fishing for flounder, sea trout, redfish, and Spanish mackerel. — Casey Barber, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2025 On a rocky outcropping by the water, fishermen like to gather to catch blue runner, mangrove snapper, grunt, barracuda and occasionally a blue crab. — Nicolas Rivero, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025 The brown butter blue crab ravioli is a tough act to follow, too. — Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 25 Feb. 2025 The colorful flora is among the delights in the marshland surrounding Charleston, which both protects the Lowcountry from the worst impact of storms and also provides a welcoming environment for aquatic creatures, including dolphins, herons, and blue crabs. — Ellen Schmedinghoff, AFAR Media, 14 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for blue crab

Word History

First Known Use

1763, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of blue crab was in 1763

Rhymes for blue crab

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blue crab
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Cite this Entry

“Blue crab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blue%20crab. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about blue crab

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