noun
crawfish
KRAW-fihsh
Crawfish (noun) means a freshwater crustacean similar to a small lobster, also called a crayfish, often eaten as seafood. Example: “They boiled crawfish with corn and potatoes for the party.”
noun
1
A freshwater crustacean similar to a small lobster, also called a crayfish, often eaten as seafood.
"They boiled crawfish with corn and potatoes for the party."
verb
1
Informal: to back out of a commitment or retreat from a position.
"The senator crawfished on his campaign promise as soon as he took office."
How to use crawfish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the crustacean (a Southern U.S. variant of crayfish) or, informally, to retreat from a promise.
UK vs US
Mainly used in the Southern United States, especially Louisiana, where crawfish boils are a well-known tradition.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- crawfishes
- Third person singular
- crawfishes
- Past tense
- crawfished
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They boiled _____ with corn and potatoes for the party.
Etymology
A folk-etymology respelling of the older word crevis (compare crayfish), reshaped in English because it sounded like "fish."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for crawfish
See all rhymes for crawfish →Frequently asked questions
What does “crawfish” mean?
The word “crawfish” means a freshwater crustacean similar to a small lobster, also called a crayfish, often eaten as seafood. In plain terms, either the crustacean (a Southern U.S. variant of crayfish) or, informally, to retreat from a promise.
How do you pronounce “crawfish”?
“Crawfish” is pronounced KRAW-fihsh (/ˈkɹɔˌfɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “crawfish” in a sentence?
Here is “crawfish” used in a sentence: “They boiled crawfish with corn and potatoes for the party.”
What part of speech is “crawfish”?
Depending on how it is used, “crawfish” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “crawfish” have?
“Crawfish” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a freshwater crustacean similar to a small lobster, also called a crayfish, often eaten as seafood.
