Shrimp (?), 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.]
Shrimp, n. [OE. shrimp; --
probably so named from its shriveled appearance. See Shrimp,
v.] 1. (Zoöl.)
(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. (Zoöl.) See under
Opossum. -- Spector shrimp, or
Skeleton shrimp (Zoöl.), any slender
amphipod crustacean of the genus Caprella and allied genera.
See Illust. under Læmodopoda. --
Shrimp catcher (Zoöl.), the little
tern (Sterna minuta). -- Shrimp net,
a dredge net fixed upon a pole, or a sweep net dragged over the
fishing ground.