crawfish

Meanings

Plural: crawfish, crawfishes

Noun

• tiny lobster-like crustaceans usually boiled briefly
• small freshwater decapod crustacean that resembles a lobster
• large edible marine crustacean having a spiny carapace but lacking the large pincers of true lobsters
• Any of various freshwater crustaceans: crayfish.
• Any of various marine crustaceans, rock lobster; especially Jasus lalandii, the Cape crawfish.
• An English-Canadian. Used in some corners of Quebec (including the Gaspé).

Verb

• make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity
  • "We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him"
• To fish for crawfish.
• To backpedal, desert or withdraw (also used with out).

Synonyms

back away, back out, crawdad, crawdaddy, crawfish out, crawldad, crawlfish, crayfish, ecrevisse, langouste, mudbug, pull back, pull in one's horns, retreat, rock lobster, sea crawfish, spiny lobster, withdraw, yabby