Skel·e·ton, a. Consisting of, or resembling, a skeleton; consisting merely of the framework or outlines; having only certain leading features of anything; as, a skeleton sermon; a skeleton crystal.
 Skeleton bill, a bill or draft made out in blank as to the amount or payee, but signed by the acceptor. [Eng.]
 Skeleton key, a key with nearly the whole substance of the web filed away, to adapt it to avoid the wards of a lock; a master key; -- used for opening locks to which it has not been especially fitted.
 Skeleton leaf, a leaf from which the pulpy part has been removed by chemical means, the fibrous part alone remaining.
 Skeleton proof, a proof of a print or engraving, with the inscription outlined in hair strokes only, such proofs being taken before the engraving is finished.
 Skeleton regiment, a regiment which has its complement of officers, but in which there are few enlisted men.
 Skeleton shrimp Zool., a small crustacean of the genus Caprella. See Illust. under Laemodipoda.

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 Shrimp, n.
 1. Zool. (a) Any one of numerous species of macruran Crustacea belonging to Crangon and various allied genera, having a slender body and long legs.  Many of them are used as food.  The larger kinds are called also prawns. See Illust. of Decapoda. (b) In a more general sense, any species of the macruran tribe Caridea, or any species of the order Schizopoda, having a similar form. (c) In a loose sense, any small crustacean, including some amphipods and even certain entomostracans; as, the fairy shrimp, and brine shrimp. See under Fairy, and Brine.
 2. Figuratively, a little wrinkled man; a dwarf; -- in contempt.
    This weak and writhled shrimp.   --Shak.
 Opossum shrimp. Zool. See under Opossum.
 Spector shrimp, or Skeleton shrimp Zool., any slender amphipod crustacean of the genus Caprella and allied genera. See Illust. under Laemodopoda.
 Shrimp catcher Zool., the little tern (Sterna minuta).
 Shrimp net, a dredge net fixed upon a pole, or a sweep net dragged over the fishing ground.

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 skeleton shrimp
      n : small amphipod crustacean having a grotesque form suggestive
          of the praying mantis; found chiefly on seaweed