[f. KING + CRAB sb.1]

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.

2

  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.

3

1698.  J. Petiver, in Phil. Trans., XX. 394. A King Crab of the Molucos Island.

4

1782.  Andre, ibid. LXXII. 440. The Monoculus Polyphemus, or King Crab … frequently grows to a very large size.

5

1847.  Ansted, Anc. World, ix. 188. The prawns and the king-crabs of the existing seas.

6

  2.  The British thornback-crab (Maia squinado).

7

1890.  in Cent. Dict.

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