brachyura Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an order of crustaceans (including true crabs) having a reduced abdomen folded against the ventral surface
    suborder Brachyura.

WordNet

Brach`y*u"ra noun plural
Etymology
NL., fr. Gr. short + tail.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) A group of decapod Crustacea, including the common crabs, characterized by a small and short abdomen, which is bent up beneath the large cephalo-thorax. Also spelt Brachyoura. See Crab, and Illustration in Appendix.

Webster 1913