[f. CRAB sb.1]
1. (Usually in pl.) A round concretion, found in the stomach of the crayfish and some other crustacea, consisting mainly of carbonate of lime; it has been used, finely powdered, as an absorbent and antacid. Now also applied to finely powdered carbonate of lime from other sources.
1605. Timme, Quersit., III. 181. Take … of the stones which are commonly called crabbes eyes halfe an ounce.
1693. Leeuwenhoek, in Phil. Trans., XVII. 958. I put some Crabs-Eyes into the Vinegar.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), VI. 364. A chalky substance, found in the lower part of the stomach of all lobsters, improperly called crab’s eyes.
1807. T. Thomson, Chem. (ed. 3), II. 604. The use of carbonate of lime as a manure, a paint, and a medicine, under the names of lime, whiting, crab’s eyes, &c. is equally well known.
1861. Hulme, trans. Moquin-Tandon, II. III. iii. 97. When the Crabs are about to cast their shell, two calcareous masses are found in the lateral compartments of the stomach. These have received the name of ‘Crab’s eyes.’
1880. Huxley, Crayfish, 223. A minute crab’s-eye or gastrolith.
2. pl. The scarlet seeds or peas of Abrus precatorius, the Coral-bead plant; also the plant.
1866. in Treas. Bot.
1869. Oliver, Elem. Bot., II. 166. The seeds of Abrus precatorius, called ‘Crabs’-eyes,’ are strung together for necklaces.
3. Crab’s eye lichen (see quot.).
1849. in Lindley, Med. & Œcon. Bot., 20.
1866. Treas. Bot., Crab’s eye lichen, Lecanora pallescens, which was formerly gathered under this name in the north of England for the dyers.
