Prawns

1 definition found

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

  Shrimp \Shrimp\, n. [OE. shrimp; -- probably so named from its
     shriveled appearance. See {Shrimp}, v.]
     1. (Zool.)
        (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}.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Figuratively, a little wrinkled man; a dwarf; -- in
        contempt.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              This weak and writhled shrimp.        --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Opossum shrimp}. (Zool.) See under {Opossum}.
  
     {Spector shrimp}, or {Skeleton shrimp} (Zool.), any slender
        amphipod crustacean of the genus {Caprella} and allied
        genera. See Illust. under {Laemodopoda}.
  
     {Shrimp catcher} (Zool.), the little tern ({Sterna minuta}).
        
  
     {Shrimp net}, a dredge net fixed upon a pole, or a sweep net
        dragged over the fishing ground.
        [1913 Webster]