Gambas
/ˈɡæm.bəz/noun
Gambas are shrimp, especially in Spanish or Mediterranean cuisine.
Did you know?The culinary word traces back to a Mediterranean term for a leg, linking shrimp with the same linguistic family as “jamb,” “gambit,” and “gambol.”
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
camba
“The leg or joint of an animal; a term associated with the lower limb.”
Medieval Romance
Romance
gamba
“Leg, especially an animal’s leg; the source of several Romance words for limbs.”
Medieval Italian
Italian
gamba
“Leg; also used metaphorically for leg-like forms.”
Medieval Catalan/Spanish
Catalan/Spanish
gamba
“Shrimp or prawn, likely named through comparison with a leg or limb.”
Modern Spanish
Spanish
gambas
“Plural of gamba: shrimp or prawns.”
Modern English
English
gambas
“A culinary loanword for shrimp or prawns, especially in dishes such as gambas al ajillo.”