A freshwater fish commonly found in lakes and rivers, often farmed for food. As a verb, it means to complain persistently or find fault constantly.
From Old French 'carpe,' from Latin 'carpa.' The verb meaning 'to complain' comes from Old Norse 'karpa' meaning 'to boast,' which evolved to mean persistent talking, then specifically complaining.
It's fascinating that the same word describes both a fish and the act of complaining - both meanings survived independently from different linguistic origins. Carp (the fish) can live over 100 years and are considered symbols of perseverance in many cultures.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.