crawfish

Folk etymology from Middle English crevis, from Old French crevice, influenced by fish. Compare crayfish, French écrevisse.

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɹɒˌfɪʃ/ [ext 1][ext 2][ext 3]

crawfish (countable and uncountable, plural crawfishes or crawfish)

1. (Southern US, Midwestern US and Western US) Various freshwater crustaceans, crayfish.
2. (South Africa) Various marine crustaceans, rock lobster; especially Jasus lalandii, the Cape crawfish.
3. (Quebec, Canada, slang, derogatory) A slur against Anglo-Canadians used in some corners of Quebec (including the Gaspé).

• (freshwater crustaceans): crawdad, crawldad, crawlfish, crayfish, mudbug, yabby (Australia)

crawfish (third-person singular simple present crawfishes, present participle crawfishing, simple past and past participle crawfished)

1. (colloquial, Southern US) To backpedal, desert or withdraw (also used with out).
   • 1968, Charles Portis, True Grit:

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

• “crawfish” in Merriam–Webster Online Dictionary.
• “crawfish, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.