a. A large marine stalk-eyed ten-footed long-tailed crustacean of the genus Homarus, much used for food; it is greenish or bluish black when raw, and of a brilliant red when boiled; the first pair of feet are very large and form the characteristic ‘claws’.

b. Applied with qualification to other crustaceans resembling the above. Norway lobster n. Nephrops norvegicus. spiny lobster n. (also thorny lobster) Palinurus vulgaris = crayfish n. 3b.freshwater lobster: see the first element.

c. The flesh of the animal, as food.

d. The construction of jointed plate-armour is often described by comparison to a lobster's tail. Cf. lobster-tail n. at Compounds 2).

†a. An opprobrious name (? for a red-faced man).

b. A slow-witted, awkward, or gullible person; a fool, dupe; a bore. U.S. slang.

a. A contemptuous name for: A British soldier. The name was originally applied to a regiment of Roundhead cuirassiers from their wearing complete suits of armour (cf. 1d above). In later times it has been referred to the characteristic red coat. Also boiled lobster. raw (or unboiled) lobster: a policeman: so called in contradistinction to ‘boiled lobster’, on account of his blue uniform.

b. slang phrase to boil one's lobster: see quot. 1785.