carp 1
— carper , n.
/kahrp/ , v.i.
1. to find fault or complain querulously or unreasonably; be niggling in criticizing; cavil: to carp at minor errors.
n.
2. a peevish complaint.
[ 1200-50; ME carpen to speak, prate karpa to brag, wrangle ]
Syn. 1. criticize, deprecate, condemn, censure.
carp 2
/kahrp/ , n. , pl. ( esp. collectively ) carp , ( esp. referring to two or more kinds or species ) carps .
1. a large freshwater cyprinid fish, Cyprinus carpio, native to Asia but widely introduced in tropical and temperate waters: an important food fish in many countries.
2. any of various other fishes of the family Cyprinidae.
[ 1350-1400; ME carpe karpe; c. OHG karpfo ]