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
SHRIMPY 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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