Also 6–7 crabb; Sc. 5–6 craib, 6–7 crabe. [f. CRABBED a. or its source.]
† 1. trans. To go counter to, to cross; to put out of humour or temper; to irritate, anger, enrage, provoke. Sc. ? Obs.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 5323. Qui colkins þou, ser conquirour & crabbis so þi saule.
c. 1450. Henryson, Mor. Fab., 84. Ane full gude seruant will craib his Master anes.
1461. Liber Pluscardensis, XI. viii. (1877), I. 383. Thow makis gret falt … All thus but caus to crab thi creatowre.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 563. To contray him or crab in ony thing.
1588. A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., Schort Waye, 6 b. To put our selues in danger to crab god.
1595. Duncan, App. Etymol., Offendo, to stumble, to crabbe, to find by chance.
a. 1605. Polwart, Flyting w. Montgomerie, 152. I will … swingeour, for thy sake refuse it … To crabe thee.
b. absol. and intr.
a. 1500. Ratis Raving, II. 122. Thai here glaidly, and lytill spekis, Laith for to crab and seldin wrekis. Ibid., III. 175. Crab nocht lychtly for lytil thing.
1598. Fergusson, Scot. Prov., He that crabbs without cause should mease without mends.
† 2. trans. To render (the disposition, etc.) ill-tempered or peevish; to sour. Obs. rare.
1662. Glanvill, Lux Orient., iv. (1682), 33. How age or sickness sowers, and crabbs our natures.
