A person who catches, sells, or works with crabs, especially a fisherman specializing in crab fishing.
From 'crab' (Old Norse 'krabbi') plus 'man' (Old English 'mann'). Compound occupational terms like this reflect historical fishing professions.
Compound occupational words like 'crabman,' 'milkman,' and 'postman' are fading from English as those specific jobs disappear—they're becoming fossils of industrial society.
Occupational term using 'man' as the default human referent, reflecting historical erasure of women crabbers and fishers. Modern usage retains male-as-default assumption.
Use 'crab fisher' or 'crabber' (gender-neutral) instead. If historical specificity needed, specify 'crabman/crabwoman' or use inclusive term with gendered qualifier.
["crabber","crab fisher","crab catcher"]
Women have participated in commercial and subsistence crabbing globally; terms like 'crabman' historically rendered their labor invisible or exceptional.
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