Middle English Dictionary Entry
shrimpe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | shrimpe n. Also schrimp(e; pl. shrimpes, etc. & shrimpus, scrimppis, srimpes, schrimpe. |
| Etymology | Prob. from or related to MLG, MDu. schrimpen to shrivel (up), wrinkle & MLG, MDu. schrempen, MDu. scrempen to cause to wrinkle; also cp. AL (early 15th cent.) schrempus, scrympus; & cp. MLG schrumpe a wrinkle, fold, Norw. dial. skramp thin man, MnE dial. shrump to shrink, shrivel & scrump shriveled or undersized person. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The European shrimp (Crangon vulgaris); (b) a scaly monster, dragon; (c) a puny person.
Associated quotations
a
- (1327) *Wardrobe Acc.20 Edw.II [OD col.]31/18 : Shrimpis, 3 d.
- (1338) Doc.in Dugdale Monasticon 2584 : In shrympes, iij d.
- (1393) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52213/1 : Pro schrympes, xliiij s.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)449 : Schrymp, fysche: Stingus.
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)42 : Take þe Luce an þe Perche & þe Schrympe & seþe hem.
- c1450 Brut-1431(1) (Eg 650)447/31 : Grete Scrymppys.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)597/9 : Multipes: a lokecheste, or a shrympe.
- (1465) Acc.Howard in RC 57305 : Item, for srympes the same day, j d.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)646 : Shrympes welle pyked, þe scales awey ye cast, Round abowt a sawcer ley ye þem.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)824 : Sewes on fishe dayes..Colice of pike, shrympus or perche.
b
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)767 : His scoulders ware schalyde all in clene syluere, Schreede ouer all þe schrympe with schrinkande poyntez.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3145 : Religioun hath take vp al the corn Of tredyng, and we borel men been shrympes.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1400 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Paris n.a. lat.699)96/11 : Le dais que tant est rouges, Le goleis, [glossed:] schripes, et le tauntepe.
Note: New spelling: plural--(error) schripes
Note: French= a kind of jelly fish. French glossed as 'crevette'?--per REL
Note: ?shrimpe n. per REL
Note: tauntepe = prawn; dais = dace (a type of small fish which can be one of many different species).
Note: The form shripes may just be an error for shrimpe n. rather than some sort of jellyfish, although the Anglo- Norman Dictionary has two senses for "goleis, geleis" (using this quot.): 1. jelly-fish; 2. whelk, a marine gastropod mollusc. Also, the queried gloss 'crevette' = shrimp.--per MLL
Note: Perhaps add to gloss in sense (a): "also, ?a jelly-fish; ?a whelk.