Any decapod crustacean of the family Astacidæ (genera Cambarus and Cambarus), resembling the lobster, but smaller, and found in fresh waters. Crawfishes are esteemed very delicate food both in Europe and America. The North American species are numerous and mostly belong to the genus Cambarus. The blind crawfish of the Mammoth Cave is Cambarus pellucidus. The common European species is Astacus fluviatilis.

tiny lobsterlike crustaceans usually boiled briefly.

a large edible marine crustacean having a spiny carapace but lacking the large pincers of true lobsters.

to back out in a humilating manner; as, We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him.

make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity; "We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him"; "He backed out of his earlier promise"; "The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns"

a burrowing animal