1. Small freshwater decapod crustacean that resembles a lobster
   "crawfishes are often caught for food in the southern United States";
   - crayfish, crawdad [N. Amer], crawdaddy [N. Amer]
    
2. Large edible marine crustacean having a spiny carapace but lacking the large pincers of true lobsters
   "The sea crawfish, also known as spiny lobster, was a popular dish in coastal restaurants";
   - spiny lobster, langouste, rock lobster, crayfish, sea crawfish [N. Amer]
    
3. Tiny lobster-like crustaceans usually boiled briefly
   "The Cajun restaurant served a spicy crawfish étouffée";
   - crayfish, crawdad [N. Amer], ecrevisse

1. Make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity
   "We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him";
   - retreat, pull back, back out, back away, crawfish out [N. Amer, informal], pull in one's horns [informal], withdraw

Derived forms: crawfished, crawfishing, crawfishes

Type of: break, break off, cease, decapod, decapod crustacean, discontinue, give up, lay off, lobster, quit, shellfish, stop, surcease [archaic]

Part of: American crayfish, Astacidae, Astacura, ecrevisse, family Astacidae, genus Palinurus, Old World crayfish, Palinurus

Encyclopedia: Crawfish