Prawn (?), n. [OE. prane, of unknown origin; cf. L. perna a sea mussel.] Zool.
Any one of numerous species of large shrimplike Crustacea having slender legs and long antennae. They mostly belong to the genera Pandalus, Palaemon, Palaemonetes, and Peneus, and are much used as food. The common English prawn in Palaemon serratus.
The name is often applied to any large shrimp.
© Webster 1913.