How to Train Your Dragon Wiki
Register
Advertisement
How to Train Your Dragon Wiki
Books Franchise



Shrimp, also called Prawns, are aquatic invertebrates mentioned occasionally in the How to Train Your Dragon Book series.

Description[]

Shrimp is a broad non-taxonomic term applied to any crustacean with a long body, long antennae, swimming movement, and often slim claws. Shrimp often look somewhat like smaller, delicate lobster, but lobster tend to walk for locomotion rather than swimming. The term 'shrimp' is sometimes used for smaller species that fit into that description, while 'prawn' refers to larger species. Also, 'shrimp' is more generally used in the United States, while 'prawn' is more often used in Europe.

Species called shrimp are most often seen in Infraorder Caridea and Suborder Dendrobranchiata, but other species may belong to a variety of other taxons such as Infraorder Stenopodidea or Boxer shrimp, Genus Artemia or Brine shrimp, or Order Stomatopoda - the mantis shrimp.

Shrimp species occurring in Scandinavian regions include: the Common shrimp (Crangon crangon) and the Northern prawn (Pandalus borealis).

Function[]

The term 'prawn' is used in the Book series to negatively describe someone small in stature.

In real life prawns or shrimp are the most commercially fished crustacean around the world for consumption.

Appearances[]

How to Train Your Dragon[]

'Prawn' is mentioned when describing Hiccup being stabbed by the Green Death's tooth, after the dragon dies.

If it [Stoick's shield] had not been there, the Tooth would have impaled Hiccup like a prawn on a stick.
  — Book 1  


How to Be a Pirate[]

Hiccup is called a prawn again in Book 2, this time by Outcasts speaking Outcastese.

'That skinny prawn is the Heir to the Hairy Hooligans???
  — Outcasts  


A trapped shrimp is used to describe Hiccup's mind as he was being squeezed by Grimbeard's Monstrous Strangulator.

Thank you, Fishlegs," said Hiccup, his mind flicking about like a shrimp in a net, and trying to ignore the terrible squeezing around his chest.
  — Book 2  


How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse[]

Fishlegs is compared to a prawn when next to the rather large Gobber the Belch. Fishlegs, in his berserker state, just insulted him.

Gobber started, as surprised as if a small pink prawn on a plate had suddenly leapt up and bit him.
  — Book 4  


How to Train Your Viking[]

Shrimp is used as a derogatory term by Gobber while yelling at the young Hooligan boys.

OKAY THEN, YOU MISERABLE PIECES OF SHRIMP VOMIT!
  — Gobber  


References[]

Wikipedia-logo-v2.svg Shrimp on Wikipedia

Site Navigation[]

Advertisement