Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Plover \Plov"er\, n. [OF. plovier, F. pluvier, prop., the rain
   bird, fr. LL. (assumed) pluviarius, fr. L. pluvia rain, from
   pluere to rain; akin to E. float, G. fliessen to flow. See
   {Float}.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of limicoline birds
      belonging to the family {Charadrid[ae]}, and especially
      those belonging to the subfamily {Charadrins[ae]}. They
      are prized as game birds.

   2. (Zo["o]l.) Any grallatorial bird allied to, or resembling,
      the true plovers, as the crab plover ({Dromas ardeola});
      the American upland, plover ({Bartramia longicauda}); and
      other species of sandpipers.

   Note: Among the more important species are the {blackbellied,
         or blackbreasted, plover} ({Charadrius squatarola}) of
         America and Europe; -- called also {gray plover},
         {bull-head plover}, {Swiss plover}, {sea plover}, and
         {oxeye}; the {golden plover} (see under {Golden}); the
         {ring or ringed plover} ({[AE]gialitis hiaticula}). See
         {Ringneck}. The {piping plover} ({[AE]gialitis
         meloda}); {Wilson's plover} ({[AE]. Wilsonia}); the
         {mountain plover} ({[AE]. montana}); and the
         {semipalmated plover} ({[AE]. semipalmata}), are all
         small American species.

   {Bastard plover} (Zo["o]l.), the lapwing.

   {Long-legged}, or {yellow-legged}, {plover}. See {Tattler}.
      

   {Plover's page}, the dunlin. [Prov. Eng.]

   {Rock plover}, or {Stone plover}, the black-bellied plover.
      [Prov. Eng.]

   {Whistling plover}.
      (a) The golden plover.
      (b) The black-bellied plover.

Drome \Drome\ (dr[=o]m), n. [F., fr. Gr. droma`s running. See
   {Dromedary}.] (Zo["o]l.)
   The crab plover ({Dromas ardeola}), a peculiar North African
   bird, allied to the oyster catcher.

Crab \Crab\ (kr[a^]b), n. [AS. crabba; akin to D. krab, G.
   krabbe, krebs, Icel. krabbi, Sw. krabba, Dan. krabbe, and
   perh. to E. cramp. Cf. {Crawfish}.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) One of the brachyuran Crustacea. They are
      mostly marine, and usually have a broad, short body,
      covered with a strong shell or carapace. The abdomen is
      small and curled up beneath the body.

   Note: The name is applied to all the Brachyura, and to
         certain Anomura, as the hermit crabs. Formerly, it was
         sometimes applied to Crustacea in general. Many species
         are edible, the blue crab of the Atlantic coast being
         one of the most esteemed. The large European edible
         crab is {Cancer padurus}. {Soft-shelled crabs} are blue
         crabs that have recently cast their shells. See
         {Cancer}; also, {Box crab}, {Fiddler crab}, {Hermit
         crab}, {Spider crab}, etc., under {Box}, {Fiddler}.
         etc.

   2. The zodiacal constellation Cancer.

   3. [See {Crab}, a.] (Bot.) A crab apple; -- so named from its
      harsh taste.

            When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl, Then nightly
            sings the staring owl.                --Shak.

   4. A cudgel made of the wood of the crab tree; a crabstick.
      [Obs.] --Garrick.

   5. (Mech.)
      (a) A movable winch or windlass with powerful gearing,
          used with derricks, etc.
      (b) A form of windlass, or geared capstan, for hauling
          ships into dock, etc.
      (c) A machine used in ropewalks to stretch the yarn.
      (d) A claw for anchoring a portable machine.

   {Calling crab}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Fiddler}., n., 2.

   {Crab apple}, a small, sour apple, of several kinds; also,
      the tree which bears it; as, the European crab apple
      ({Pyrus Malus} var. sylvestris); the Siberian crab apple
      ({Pyrus baccata}); and the American ({Pyrus coronaria}).
      

   {Crab grass}. (Bot.)
      (a) A grass ({Digitaria, or Panicum, sanguinalis}); --
          called also {finger grass}.
      (b) A grass of the genus {Eleusine} ({E. Indica}); --
          called also {dog's-tail grass}, {wire grass}, etc.

   {Crab louse} (Zo["o]l.), a species of louse ({Phthirius
      pubis}), sometimes infesting the human body.

   {Crab plover} (Zo["o]l.), an Asiatic plover ({Dromas
      ardeola}).

   {Crab's eyes}, or {Crab's stones}, masses of calcareous
      matter found, at certain seasons of the year, on either
      side of the stomach of the European crawfishes, and
      formerly used in medicine for absorbent and antacid
      purposes; the gastroliths.

   {Crab spider} (Zo["o]l.), one of a group of spiders
      ({Laterigrad[ae]}); -- called because they can run
      backwards or sideways like a crab.

   {Crab tree}, the tree that bears crab applies.

   {Crab wood}, a light cabinet wood obtained in Guiana, which
      takes a high polish. --McElrath.

   {To catch a crab} (Naut.), a phrase used of a rower:
      (a) when he fails to raise his oar clear of the water;
      (b) when he misses the water altogether in making a
          stroke.