Where does “shrimp” come from?
Shrimp derives from Middle English schrimpe, from Proto-Germanic skrimpaz, from Proto-Germanic skrimpaną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (s)ker- and sek-, roots meaning to cut or separate.
shrimp (English): Any of many swimming, often edible crustaceans,...
Definitions
- Any of many swimming, often edible crustaceans,...
Ancestry of “shrimp”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | schrimpe | shrimp, puny person |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | skrimpaz | shrivelled |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | skrimpaną | to contract, to shrink |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kerbʰ- | to turn, curve; to turn , wind; to turn around,... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)ker- | to cut off; to turn, bend |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | sek- | to cut, cut off, sever |
Words derived from “shrimp”