crayfish

Where does the word "crayfish" come from? It comes from Frankish *krebitja, passing through Old French before entering English (1500s).

Crayfish’s story begins in Frankish: *krebitja meant “crab.” A Germanic crab word, related to German Krebs 'crab'. By 1200s, the word had taken hold in Old French as crevice. A freshwater crustacean; modern French crevette 'shrimp' comes from the same word. It reached English by 1500s as crayfish. Middle English crevis was reshaped as if it contained 'fish', although the animal is a crustacean. Today, crayfish means a freshwater crustacean resembling a small lobster.

1. Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient *krebitja "crab", a Germanic crab word, related to German Krebs 'crab'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · 1200s crevice "crayfish", a freshwater crustacean; modern French crevette 'shrimp' comes from the same word.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s crayfish "freshwater crustacean", Middle English crevis was reshaped as if it contained 'fish', although the animal is a crustacean.