ˈking-crab
[f. king + crab n.1]
1. A large arthropodous animal of the genus Limulus, having a convex carapace somewhat of the shape of a horseshoe; the horseshoe or Molucca crab.
Formerly classed among the Crustacea, but now generally placed under the Arachnida or Spiders; in structure it differs considerably from the typical form of both classes, and is considered to be the nearest living representative of the extinct Trilobites.
| 1698 J. Petiver in Phil. Trans. XX. 394 A King Crab of the Molucos Island. 1782 Andre ibid. LXXII. 440 The Monoculus Polyphemus, or King Crab..frequently grows to a very large size. 1847 Ansted Anc. World ix. 188 The prawns and the king-crabs of the existing seas. |
2. The British thornback-crab (Maia squinado).
| 1890 in Cent. Dict. |