Etymology Map
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Crayfish

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means a freshwater crustacean resembling a small lobster

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

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

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.