Carps

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Carp \Carp\, n.; pl. {Carp}, formerly {Carps}. [Cf. Icel. karfi,
     Dan. karpe, Sw. karp, OHG. charpho, G. karpfen, F. carpe, LL.
     carpa.] (Zool.)
     A fresh-water herbivorous fish ({Cyprinus carpio}.). Several
     other species of {Cyprinus}, {Catla}, and {Carassius} are
     called carp. See {Cruclan carp}.


     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The carp was originally from Asia, whence it was early
           introduced into Europe, where it is extensively reared
           in artificial ponds. Within a few years it has been
           introduced into America, and widely distributed by the
           government. Domestication has produced several
           varieties, as the leather carp, which is nearly or
           quite destitute of scales, and the mirror carp, which
           has only a few large scales. Intermediate varieties
           occur.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {Carp louse} (Zool.), a small crustacean, of the genus
        {Argulus}, parasitic on carp and allied fishes. See
        {Branchiura}.
  
     {Carp mullet} (Zool.), a fish ({Moxostoma carpio}) of the
        Ohio River and Great Lakes, allied to the suckers.
  
     {Carp sucker} (Zool.), a name given to several species of
        fresh-water fishes of the genus Carpiodes in the United
        States; -- called also quillback.
        [1913 Webster]