[n] large edible marine crustacean having a spiny carapace but lacking the large pincers of true lobsters
[n] small freshwater decapod crustacean that resembles a lobster
[n] tiny lobster-like crustaceans usually boiled briefly
[v] make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity; "We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him"; "He backed out of his earlier promise"; "The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns"