Xanthidae

plural noun

Xan·​thi·​dae
ˈzan(t)thəˌdē
: the largest family of crabs (superfamily Brachyrhyncha) comprising chiefly small littoral or shallow water marine crabs with oval carapaces armed with spines or lobes along the anterolateral margin and including the edible stone and coral crabs

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Xanthus, type genus (from Greek xanthos yellow) + -idae

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near Xanthidae

Cite this Entry

“Xanthidae.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Xanthidae. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!