crawfish

plural crawfishes

1. LouisianaSouthern USTexasUSWesterncountableespeciallyuncountableMidwestAny of various freshwater crustaceans: crayfish.

   Synonyms: crawdad, crawldad, crawlfish, crayfish, mudbug, yabby

2. South AfricacountableuncountableAny of various marine crustaceans, rock lobster; especially Jasus lalandii, the Cape crawfish.
3. CanadaQuebeccountablederogatoryslanguncountableAn English-Canadian. Used in some corners of Quebec (including the Gaspé).

present singular third person crawfishes · participle present crawfishing · participle past crawfished · past crawfished

1. intransitiveTo fish for crawfish.

   As a matter of fact I had to go off at a moment's notice to arrange our connection at the coast. Fellow owning the bungalow wanted to crawfish.

   1934, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], The Bravo of London

2. Southern UScolloquialintransitiveTo backpedal, desert or withdraw (also used with out).

   I have never been one to flinch or crawfish when faced with an unpleasant task.

   1968, Charles Portis, True Grit