Langoustine
/ˌlæŋɡəˈstiːn/noun
A small edible marine crustacean related to the lobster, especially *Nephrops norvegicus*.
Did you know?*Langoustine* is a French word borrowed from Italian *langustino*, a diminutive of *langusta* “lobster,” ultimately from Latin *locusta* “lobster, locust,” a single ancient word that once named both a sea creature and a swarm-devouring insect.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
locusta
“A lobster or crayfish; also a locust.”
Late Latin / Romance
Romance
*langosta* / *langusta*
“A lobster or large crustacean, developing in Romance languages from the Latin word.”
Italian
Italian
langustino
“A small lobster or prawn-like crustacean.”
French
French
langoustine
“A small lobster-like edible crustacean.”
Modern English
English
langoustine
“An edible small lobster-like crustacean, especially *Nephrops norvegicus*.”