crabby
pronunciation
How to pronounce crabby in British English:
UK [ˈkræbi]
How to pronounce crabby in American English:
US [ˈkræbi]
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- Adjective:
- perversely irritable
Word Origin
- crabby (adj.)
- 1520s, in now-obsolete sense "crooked, gnarled, rough," from extended sense of crab (n.1) + -y (2). Meaning "disagreeable, sour, peevish" is attested from 1776, American English. Both senses were found earlier in crabbed.
Example
- 1. He is crabby and ever straining to conceal his love for the trail .
- 2. Lack of vitamin c , which affects noradrenaline levels , can make you crabby !
- 3. Some of his crabby belligerence may have been prompted by the ill-health and awful accidents that dogged his wife and children .
- 4. While crabby people may approach the world with more critical outlooks and attention to detail , being in a positive mood , forgas found , has been shown to improve creativity , cooperation and flexibility .