skrimp

v. t. [ Cf. AS. scrimman to dry up, wither, MHG. schrimpfen to shrink, G. schrumpfen, Dan. skrumpe, skrumpes, Da. & Sw. skrumpen shriveled. Cf. Scrimp, Shrink, Shrivel. ] To contract; to shrink. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]

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 ]