Crab, v. i. (Naut.)To drift sidewise or to leeward, as a vessel. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
Crab, a. [Prob. from the same root as crab, n.] Sour; rough; austere.
The crab vintage of the neighb'ring coast.
Dryden.
Crab"bed (kr?b"b?d), a. [See Crab,n.] 1. Characterized by or manifesting, sourness, peevishness, or moroseness; harsh; cross; cynical; -- applied to feelings, disposition, or manners.
Crabbed age and youth can not live together.
Shak.
2. Characterized by harshness or roughness; unpleasant; -- applied to things; as, a crabbed taste.
3. Obscure; difficult; perplexing; trying; as, a crabbed author. "Crabbed eloquence." Chaucer.
How charming is divine philosophy!
Not harsh and crabbed, as dull fools suppose.
Milton.