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.
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2. Figuratively, a little wrinkled man; a dwarf; -- in
contempt.
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This weak and writhled shrimp. --Shak.
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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.
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