Crabbed (krbbd), a.
Etymology: [See Crab,n.]
1. Characterized by or manifesting, sourness, peevishness, or moroseness; harsh; cross; cynical; -- applied to feelings, disposition, or manners. Crabbed age and youth can not live together. Shak.
2. Characterized by harshness or roughness; unpleasant; -- applied to things; as, a crabbed taste.
3. Obscure; difficult; perplexing; trying; as, a crabbed author. "Crabbed eloquence." Chaucer. How charming is divine philosophy! Not harsh and crabbed, as dull fools suppose. Milton.
4. Cramped; irregular; as, crabbed handwriting. -- Crab"bed*ly, adv. -- Crab"bed*ness, n.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for crabbed; he lists it under morose.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.