soft-shell crab
noun
1.
a crab, especially the blue crab, that has recently molted and therefore has a soft, edible shell.
Origin
1835-45
Examples from the web for
soft-shell crab
Menu items include such seafood dishes as oysters, lobster,
soft-shell crab
and deep-fried catfish.
House specialties include
soft-shell crab
, fish with spicy sauce and curry duck.
Seafood is flown in fresh daily, and sushi and
soft-shell crab
appetizers appear frequently on the menu.
Within a few days, the
soft-shell crab
becomes an active, ravenous feeder.
British Dictionary definitions for
soft-shell crab
soft-shell crab
noun
1.
a crab, esp of the edible species
Cancer pagurus,
that has recently moulted and has not yet formed its new shell
Compare
hard-shell crab