A prawn is a shellfish with a long body, many legs, and antennae, similar to a shrimp and often eaten as seafood. In some varieties of English, “prawn” can mean larger shrimp-like creatures.
“Prawn” comes from Middle English *praune* or *prane*, of uncertain origin, possibly from Old French. Its exact roots are unclear, which is common with names for local foods and animals.
People argue about the difference between prawns and shrimp, but biologically the line is fuzzy and varies by region. In everyday language, the choice of word often tells you more about the speaker’s country than the animal itself.
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