Meanings
plural pistol shrimps
- A shrimp (Alpheidae) which has asymmetrical claws, the larger of which can be used to produce a loud snapping sound and shockwave that can stun or kill its prey.
Synonyms: alpheid, alpheid shrimp, snapping shrimp
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA shrimp (Alpheidae) which has asymmetrical claws, the larger of which can be used to produce a loud snapping sound and shockwave that can stun or kill its prey.
More synonyms by meaning
nounsmall shrimp that makes a snapping noise with one of their enlarged chelae
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
The snapping claw is reminiscent of a pistol.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Japanese 鉄砲蝦
- 鉄砲蝦 (teppōebi)alpheid shrimp
Polish krewetka pistoletowa
- krewetka pistoletowaalpheid shrimp
Cite this entry
pistol shrimp. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pistol%20shrimp
“pistol shrimp.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pistol%20shrimp. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pistol shrimp,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pistol%20shrimp.
Source: pistol shrimp on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.