Etymograph

English

horseshoe crab

From horseshoe + crab, referencing this animal's horseshoe-like shape.

A compound of horseshoe + crab

Middle English horsscho

English horseshoe

Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ- ‘to carve’

…

Proto-Germanic *krabbô

Proto-West Germanic *krabbō

Old English crabba

Middle English crabbe

English crab

Today it means

noun Any extinct or extant chelicerate in the order Xiphosura, actually more related to arachnids than true crabs.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / horseshoe crab