Play the crab, primarily sniping and doing little (5)
I believe the answer is:
sidle
'play' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with motion as well as being verbs in their base form.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sidle that I've seen before include "sidewalk" , "Move crabwise" , "Move in furtive or timid manner" , "Move along sideways" , "Walk obliquely" .)