Etymology : Middle English shrimpe; akin to Middle Low German schrempen to contract, wrinkle, Old Norse skorpna to shrivel up
Pronunciation : 'shrimp,
esp Southern '
Function : noun
Date : 14th century
1. any of a number of small long-tailed marine crustaceans (some of which are edible); small person or thing; insignificant person or thing (Informal). catch shrimp, fish for shrimp. shrimp\shrimp\ , v. t. [cf. as. scrimman to dry up, wither, mhg. schrimpfen to shrink, g. schrumpfen, dan. skrumpe, skrumpes, da. & sw. skrumpen shriveled. cf. scrimp, shrink, shrivel.] to contract; to shrink. [obs.]shrimp \shrimp\, n. [oe. shrimp; -- probably so named from its shriveled appearance. see:
shrimp, v.].
2. (zo?l.) (a) any one of numerous species of macruran crustacea belonging to crangon and various allied genera, having a slender body and long legs. many of them are used as food. the larger kinds are called also prawns. see:
illust. of decapoda. (b) in a more general sense, any species of the macruran tribe caridea, or any species of the order schizopoda, having a similar form. (c) in a loose sense, any small crustacean, including some amphipods and even certain entomostracans; as, the fairy shrimp, and brine shrimp. see:
under fairy, and brine.
3. figuratively, a little wrinkled man; a dwarf; -- in contempt. this weak and writhled shrimp.
4. To contract; to shrink.
5. Any one of numerous species of macruran Crustacea belonging to Crangon and various allied genera, having a slender body and long legs.
6. Many of them are used as food.
7. The larger kinds are called also prawns.
8. See Illust. of Decapoda.
9. In a more general sense, any species of the macruran tribe Caridea, or any species of the order Schizopoda, having a similar form.
10. In a loose sense, any small crustacean, including some amphipods and even certain entomostracans; as, the fairy shrimp, and brine shrimp.
11. See under Fairy, and Brine.
12. Figuratively, a little wrinkled man; a dwarf; in contempt. small slender-bodied chiefly marine decapod crustaceans with a long tail and single pair of pincers; many species are edible fish for shrimp.
13. Shrimps are small shellfish with long tails and many legs. Add the shrimp and cook for 30 seconds. Any of approximately 2,000 decapod species (suborder Natantia) having a semitransparent body flattened from side to side and a flexible abdomen terminating in a fanlike tail. The appendages are modified for swimming, and the antennae are long and whiplike. Shrimps occur in shallow and deep ocean waters and in lakes and streams. Species range from less than an inch (a few millimeters) to about 8 in. (20 cm) long. Larger species are often called prawns. Shrimps swim backward by rapidly flexing the abdomen and tail. They eat small plants and animals; some species eat carrion. Many species are commercially important as food. See also fairy shrimp.