Crăb'bed, a.

(60), a. [From crab.]

1. Characterized by, or manifesting, sourness, peevishness, or moroseness; harsh; cross;—applied to feelings, disposition, or manners.
2. Characterized by harshness or roughness; unpleasing;—applied to things; as, a crabbed taste.
3. Occasioning sour, peevish, or unpleasant feelings; difficult; perplexing; trying. “Crabbed undertakings of goodly obedience.” Hammond.

How charming is divine philosophy! Not harsh and crabbed, as dull fools suppose. Milton. What’er the crabbed author hath, He understood by implicit faith. Hudibras.