Lobster

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈlÉ’b.stÉ™/
• GenAm IPA: /ˈlÉ‘b.stÉš/

Origin

From Middle English lopster ("lobster"), from Old English loppestre ("lobster, spider-like creature"), believed to be a corruption of Latin locusta ("lobster, locust") + the Old English feminine agent suffix -estre; or from Old English lobbe, loppe ("spider") + the Old English feminine agent suffix -estre, equivalent to lop + -ster. More at lop.

Full definition of lobster

Adjective

1. red-colored, especially from a sunburn.

Noun

1. A crustacean of the family, dark green or blue-black in colour turning bright red when cooked, with a hard shell and claws, which is used as a seafood.
2. A crustacean of the Palinuridae family, pinkish red in colour, with a hard, spiny shell but no claws, which is used as a seafood.
3. (historical) A soldier or officer of the imperial British Army (due to their red or scarlet uniform).
4. (slang) An Australian twenty dollar note, due to its reddish-orange colour.

Synonyms

• (British soldier) lobsterback, redcoat

Hyponyms

• (crustacean in Palinuridae) cray, langouste, spiny lobster, rock lobster

Derived terms

Verb

1. To fish for lobsters.

Anagrams

• bolster, bolters, trobles