Corruption of CARAP, the native name of a South American tree, Carapa guianensis, used in composition: as crab-nut, the nut or seed of this tree; crab-oil (carap oil), the oil obtained from Crab-nuts, used for lighting purposes and as an anthelmintic; so crab-tree, crab-wood.
1769. E. Bancroft, Nat. Hist. Guiana, 81. The Caraba, or Crab Tree … consists of numerous branches, covered with long narrow leaves, of a dark green colour.
1849. J. F. Bourne, in Ecclesiologist, IX. 183. I intend to use ‘crab-wood’ for the roof and fittings.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Carap Oil, Crab Oil, an oil obtained in South America from the Carapa guianensis.
1865–6. [see CARAP OIL].
1866. Treas. Bot., 220/2. Crab-wood … is used for making articles of furniture, for shingles, and for the masts and spars of vessels.
1883. Im Thurn, Among Indians Guiana, xiv. 314. Most of this oil is prepared from the nuts of a very common tree, the crab-wood (Carapa guianensis)…. Crab-oil finds a ready sale in the towns…. On the savannah, where crab-nuts are less easily procured.
