What does prawning mean?
Prawning is the activity of catching prawns, either for food or for sale. It is commonly used when describing a fishery, its vessels and equipment, or the communities whose livelihoods depend on it: phrases such as “prawning grounds,” “prawning nets,” and “commercial prawning” are firmly established. As a verb form, prawning describes someone engaged in this work, as in “The crew spent the night prawning offshore.” The word is not restricted to one side of the Atlantic, although vocabulary and fishing practices differ: prawns are more generally called shrimp in many parts of the United States, while the British term prawn remains common in both British and American English. Prawning is a straightforward but useful word because it names a specific form of fishing and also evokes the seasonal, labour-intensive character of coastal fishing communities.
The activity or business of catching prawns.
"Seasonal prawning provides work for many members of the local fleet."
Normally uncountable when referring to the activity as a whole.
To catch prawns, especially for commercial sale.
"The boats returned before dawn, having spent the night prawning."
Usually used in the present participle form; the corresponding simple past is prawned.
Prawning links a familiar seafood dish with a demanding coastal livelihood, in which crews search the shallows for a small but valuable catch.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does prawning come from?
Prawning was formed in English by adding the present-participle and gerund ending -ing to prawn. Prawn itself dates from Middle English and was borrowed from an Old French form meaning a shrimp-like crustacean. Its further historical origin is less certain, and it should not be confused with the similarly named but separate practice of pawning.
Related word forms
How prawning is actually used
Prawning is usually treated as an uncountable activity rather than as a countable occupation. The term is especially associated with coastal fisheries and may appear in specialist, regional, or commercial contexts.
Easily confused with prawning
Prawning is the catching of prawns, whereas pawning means leaving something as security for a loan or dealing in pawned goods.