WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Shrimp
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [Cf. AS. scrimman to dry up, wither, MHG. schrimpfen to shrink, G. schrumpfen, Dan. skrumpe, skrumpes, Da. & Sw. skrumpen shriveled. Cf. Scrimp, Shrink, Shrivel.]
Definition : Defn: To contract; to shrink. [Obs.]

t.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Shrimp
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OE. shrimp; -- probably so named from its shriveled appearance. See Shrimp, v.]
Definition : 1. (Zo?l.) (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.

2. Figuratively, a little wrinkled man; a dwarf; -- in contempt. This weak and writhled shrimp. Shak. Opossum shrimp. (Zo?l.) See under Opossum. -- Spector shrimp, or Skeleton shrimp (Zo?l.), any slender amphipod crustacean of the genus Caprella and allied genera. See Illust. under L?modopoda. -- Shrimp catcher (Zo?l.), the little tern (Sterna minuta). -- Shrimp net, a dredge net fixed upon a pole, or a sweep net dragged over the fishing ground.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913