Prawn
Prawn
Prawn (/prɔːn/), from the Middle English word prane, is a common name for small aquatic crustaceans with an exoskeleton and ten legs, some of which can be eaten.
Description
The term prawn is used particularly in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Commonwealth nations, for large swimming crustaceans or shrimp, especially those with commercial significance in the fishing industry. Shrimp that fall in this category often belong to the suborder Dendrobranchiata. In North America, the term is used less frequently, typically for freshwater shrimp. The terms shrimp and prawn themselves lack scientific standing. Over the years, the way shrimp and prawn are used has changed, and nowadays the terms are almost interchangeable.
Etymology
The term prawn is derived from the Middle English word prane, which has origins in the Old French word prane. The word entered the English language in the 15th century.
Related Terms
- Crustacean: A large, diverse group of arthropods which includes crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill, prawns, woodlice, and barnacles.
- Dendrobranchiata: A suborder of decapods, commonly known as prawns.
- Decapoda: An order of crustaceans within the class Malacostraca, including many familiar groups such as crayfish, crabs, lobsters, prawns, and shrimp.
- Malacostraca: The largest of the six classes of crustaceans, containing about 40,000 living species, divided among 16 orders.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Prawn
- Wikipedia's article - Prawn
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