from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Fairy \Fair"y\, a.
1. Of or pertaining to fairies.
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2. Given by fairies; as, fairy money. --Dryden.
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{Fairy bird} (Zool.), the Euoropean little tern ({Sterna
minuta}); -- called also {sea swallow}, and {hooded tern}.
{Fairy bluebird}. (Zool.) See under {Bluebird}.
{Fairy martin} (Zool.), a European swallow ({Hirrundo ariel})
that builds flask-shaped nests of mud on overhanging
cliffs.
{Fairy rings} or {Fairy circles}, the circles formed in
grassy lawns by certain fungi (as {Marasmius Oreades}),
formerly supposed to be caused by fairies in their
midnight dances; also, the mushrooms themselves. Such
circles may have diameters larger than three meters.
{Fairy shrimp} (Zool.), a European fresh-water phyllopod
crustacean ({Chirocephalus diaphanus}); -- so called from
its delicate colors, transparency, and graceful motions.
The name is sometimes applied to similar American species.
{Fairy stone} (Paleon.), an echinite.
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