Catching a crab is a rowing error that occurs when an oar blade enters the water at the wrong angle or remains submerged too long during a stroke. In the context of The Boys in the Boat, this mishap is described as a potentially dangerous and embarrassing mistake for novice rowers. When a rower catches a crab, the oar becomes stuck in the water, which can forcefully push the handle into the rower’s chest or even eject them from the boat if they don’t release the oar quickly enough.

A coxswain is a crucial member of a rowing crew who does not row but steers the boat and coordinates the rowers’ efforts. The coxswain is typically smaller than the rowers and sits facing them at the stern of the boat. The coxswain’s responsibilities include directing the boat’s course, setting the rowing pace, and motivating the team during races and practice sessions.

The Dust Bowl was a severe environmental and agricultural crisis characterized by intense heat, crop failures, and massive dust storms that affected large parts of the United States during the 1930s. In The Boys in the Boat, Brown describes Joe’s journey through the US, which was ravaged by this phenomenon.