Crawfish
/ˈkrɔː.fɪʃ/noun
A freshwater crustacean similar to a small lobster, also called a crayfish.
Did you know?The English word ultimately comes from Old French and earlier Germanic roots for a crayfish, and its modern form reflects centuries of sound change and regional spelling rather than any real connection to fish.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*krebǭ
“crab, shellfish”
Old French
OF
escrevisse
“crayfish”
Middle English
ME
crevis / crevise
“crayfish”
Early Modern English
English
crayfish / crawfish
“freshwater crustacean”
Modern English
English
crawfish
“freshwater crustacean”