lobster

n. a large sea animal with a hard shell and two big claws, often eaten as expensive seafood.

n. a large marine crustacean with a stalked eye and five pairs of legs, the first of which is developed into large pincers.

“We went to a fancy restaurant on the coast and ordered fresh lobster for dinner.”

“The local economy relies heavily on the export of live lobster, which are caught using traditional wooden traps in the cold Atlantic waters.”

n. a historical nickname for a British soldier because of their bright red coats.

n. a historical slang term for a British soldier, specifically referring to the iconic red coats worn by the infantry.

“In the old stories, the villagers hid when they saw the lobsters marching toward the town.”

“The term 'lobster' was frequently used as a derogatory label by American colonists when referring to the occupying British regulars during the Revolutionary War.”

Archaic · British English · Slang

n. a slang name for an Australian twenty-dollar bill because it is red.

n. a colloquialism for an Australian twenty-dollar banknote, derived from its distinctive reddish-orange colour.

“Can you lend me a lobster until I get to the bank tomorrow?”

“He reached into his wallet and pulled out a couple of lobsters to pay for the round of drinks.”

Dialect · Slang · Informal

v. to go out on a boat to catch lobsters for work or fun.

v. to engage in the commercial or recreational fishing of lobsters.

“His family has been lobstering in this bay for three generations.”

“The crew spent the entire season lobstering off the coast of Maine, despite the increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.”

adj. having very red skin, usually from staying in the sun too long.

adj. exhibiting a bright red complexion, typically as a result of acute solar erythema or extreme embarrassment.

“He forgot to wear sunscreen at the beach and came home looking like a lobster.”

“After spending the entire afternoon hiking without a hat, his face was positively lobster by the time he reached the summit.”

Informal