Note 206 — GAMMER GURTON'S NEEDLE.
Reading edition
So in act iii., sc. 4—
"A cup of ale had in his hand, and a crab lay in the fire."
Again—
"Now a crab in the fire were worth a good groat, That I might quaff with my Captain Tom tospot." —Fulwell's Like will to Like, c. 2.
Again—
"And sometime lurk I in a gossip's bowl, In very likeness of a roasted crab." —Midsummer Night's Dream, act ii., sc. 1.
Upon this last passage, Mr Steevens has given the following examples of the use of this word—
"Yet we will have in store a crab in the fire, With nut-brown ale."—Henry V., Anon.
"And sit down in my chaire by my faire Alison, And turn a crabbe in the fire as merry as Pope Joan." —Edwards's Damon and Pithias.
"Sitting in a corner turning crabs, Or coughing o'er a warmed pot of ale." —Description of Christmas in Summer's last Will and Testament, by Nash, 1600.