First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1shrimp
noun \ˈshrimp, especially Southern ˈsrimp\
: a small shellfish that has a long body and legs and that is eaten as food
: a very small or unimportant person
plural shrimps or shrimp
Full Definition of SHRIMP
1
: any of numerous mostly small and marine decapod crustaceans (suborders Dendrobranchiata and Pleocyemata) having a slender elongated body, a compressed abdomen, and a long spiny rostrum and including some (especially family Penaeidae) that are commercially important as food; also : a small crustacean (as an amphipod or a branchiopod) resembling the true shrimps
2
: a very small or puny person or thing
— shrimp·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective
— shrimpy \ˈshrim-pē, ˈsrim-\ adjective
See shrimp defined for English-language learners
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Origin of SHRIMP
Middle English shrimpe; akin to Middle Low German schrempen to contract, wrinkle, Old Norse skorpna to shrivel up
Related to SHRIMP
Other Invertebrates (Except Insects) Terms
2shrimp
intransitive verb
SHRIMP[1] Defined for Kids
shrimp
noun \ˈshrimp\
Definition of SHRIMP for Kids
1
: a small shellfish of the sea that is related to the crabs and lobsters and is often used for food
2
: a very small or unimportant person or thing
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