1. Large edible crab of northern Pacific waters especially along the coasts of Alaska and Japan
   "The fishing boat returned with a full catch of king crab";
   - Alaska crab, Alaskan king crab, Alaska king crab, Paralithodes camtschatica
    
2. Meat of large cold-water crab; mainly leg meat
   "The restaurant served king crab with melted butter";
   - Alaska king crab, Alaskan king crab, Alaska crab
    
3. A large spider crab of Europe
   "Fishermen spotted a king crab in their nets off the coast of Norway";
   - European spider crab, Maja squinado
    
4. Large marine arthropod of the Atlantic coast of North America having a domed carapace that is shaped like a horseshoe and a stiff pointed tail; a living fossil related to the wood louse
   "king crabs came ashore to lay their eggs during the full moon";
   - horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, Xiphosurus polyphemus

Derived forms: king crabs

Type of: arthropod, crab, crabmeat, spider crab

Part of: genus Limulus, genus Maia, genus Maja, genus Paralithodes, Limulus, Maia, Maja, Paralithodes

Encyclopedia: King crab