Hens, Pistols, and Shedders

Berries
Lobster eggs. A berried lobster is a female that is carrying fertilized eggs on the underside of her tail.

Bugs
Lobster larvae. Also used more broadly to mean any lobsters.

Chicken
A 1-pound lobster.

Cock
A male lobster.

Cull
A lobster with only one claw.

Egger
A berried female lobster.

Hen
A female lobster.

Keepers
Lobsters of legal size, which is gauged by measuring the distance between the eye socket and the base of the tail. (In Maine, any lobster shorter than 3¼ inches or longer than 5 inches goes back into the water.)

Kitchen
The outer, baited chamber of a lobster trap.

Parlor
The inner chamber of a lobster trap (and where the lobster is most likely to get stuck).

Pistol
A lobster without claws.

Shedder
A newly molted lobster. Also called a rubber lobster or Jell-o lobster.

Shorts
Lobsters below the legal size. Also called snappers.