Antarctic krill

noun

: a small bioluminescent crustacean (Euphausia superba) that is found in large schools in the Southern Ocean, resembles a shrimp, and is harvested commercially especially as a source of fish bait and animal feed

Antarctic krill are thumb-sized crustaceans that feast on drifting phytoplankton and in turn provide food for myriad Antarctic denizens, including the blue whale …

—Usha Lee McFarling, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2004

Extracted from Antarctic krill, a tiny shrimp-like crustacean, krill oil contains omega-3s EPA and DHA as well as natural antioxidant pigments.

—Self Healing, November 2005

Word History

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

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