craw·fish I. \ˈkrȯ+ˌ-\noun Etymology: by folk etymology from Middle English crevis — more at crayfish 1.: crayfish 2.: spiny lobster 3.in California: ghost shrimp II. intransitive verb : to retreat from a position : back out — usually used with out < we'll just have to crawfish out of shaking hands with them — Sally Benson >