shrimp
UK[ʃrɪmp]US[ʃrɪmp]
n
A small sea creature with a thin shell, ten legs, and a long tail, that can be eaten
v
To fish for shrimp
Etymology
The word "shrimp" has a lively, imitative origin. It entered Middle English as shrimpe, likely related to the Middle Low German word schrempen, meaning "to contract or wrinkle," and is akin to the Old Norse skorpna, "to shrivel up." This etymological cluster evokes the creature's characteristic curled posture. The semantic journey connects the idea of something small, puny, or shriveled—which was the word's primary meaning in the 14th century, often applied contemptuously to a small person—to the small, curled crustacean. Over time, the zoological application became the dominant and neutral meaning, while the use for a small person became derogatory or archaic.
Analysis
The modern English word "shrimp" is a simplex word of Germanic origin. Its core form has remained largely unanalyzed into smaller meaningful parts (morphemes) within English.
Examples
The pasta was delicious, with garlic, lemon, and fresh shrimp.
They spent the afternoon shrimping in the shallow bay.
He was a tall man, making his friend look like a shrimp beside him.