SHRIMP (2)

Shrimp, n. [[OE. shrimp; — probably so named from its shriveled appearance. See Shrimp, v.]] 1. 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. 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.