fiddler crab

noun

: any of several genera (such as Austruca, Leptuca, or Uca) of burrowing crabs in which the male has one claw that is greatly enlarged

Illustration of fiddler crab

Examples of fiddler crab in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Atlantic mangrove fiddler crab is expanding beyond mangroves. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026

During those precious months, anything from a fiddler crab to a minnow was cause for excitement, our time with them so abundant that there was no need to tally or keep track. — Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2026

Not all crabs walk sideways Most true crabs—those belonging to the infraorder Brachyura, such as fiddler crabs, snow crabs, and ghost crabs—characteristically exhibit lateral movement. — Manjishtha Bhattacharyya, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Mar. 2026

Previous research shows female fiddler crabs prefer males with larger claws and faster waves, so Wilde and his team wondered what would happen if those real crabs were forced to compete with an artificial replacement that was not only bigger but also faster, according to the study. — Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fiddler crab

• taxicab
• ab
• cab
• dab
• drab
• fab
• gab
• grab
• jab
• lab
• mab
• nab

Kids Definition

fiddler crab

noun

: a burrowing crab of which the male has one claw much larger than the other