fighting crab

2 definitions found

fighting crab - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Fiddler \Fid"dler\, n. [AS. fi[eth]elere.]
     1. One who plays on a fiddle or violin.
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     2. (Zool.) A burrowing crab of the genus Gelasimus, of many
        species. The male has one claw very much enlarged, and
        often holds it in a position similar to that in which a
        musician holds a fiddle, hence the name; -- called also
        fiddler crab, calling crab, soldier crab, and
        fighting crab.
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     3. (Zool.) The common European sandpiper (Tringoides  hypoleucus
        ); -- so called because it continually
        oscillates its body.
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     Fiddler crab. (Zool.) See Fiddler, n., 2.
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  Fighting \Fight"ing\, a.
     1. Qualified for war; fit for battle.
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              An host of fighting men.              --2 Chron.
                                                    xxvi. 11.
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     2. Occupied in war; being the scene of a battle; as, a
        fighting field. --Pope.
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     A fighting chance, one dependent upon the issue of a
        struggle. [Colloq.]
  
     Fighting crab (Zool.), the fiddler crab.
  
     Fighting fish (Zool.), a remarkably pugnacious East Indian
        fish (Betta pugnax), reared by the Siamese for
        spectacular fish fights.
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