noun / verb
shrimp
SHRIMP/ʃrɪmp/
A small edible marine crustacean.
The shrimp has a curved segmented shell, long antennae, and small legs.
Etymology
Middle English shrimpe named the crustacean and probably comes from or is related to Old Norse skreppa, “thin person.” The proposed link is thinness, connecting the shellfish with the idea of a slight or puny creature.
In context
Start by peeling and devaining the shrimp.
More examples
- A small shrimp hides among the rocks.
- Each taco comes with three grilled shrimp.
- They shrimp in coastal waters during the summer.
Forms
shrimp · shrimps · shrimped · shrimping
shrimper noun — A person who catches shrimp commercially.
Similar words
- prawn
- Often names larger shrimp or similar long-tailed edible crustaceans.