\Carp\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Carped}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Carping}.] [OE. carpen to say, speak; from Scand. (cf. Icel.
karpa to boast), but influenced later by L. carpere to pluck,
calumniate.]
1. To talk; to speak; to prattle. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
2. To find fault; to cavil; to censure words or actions
   without reason or ill-naturedly; -- usually followed by
   at.
         Carping and caviling at faults of manner. --Blackw.
                                               Mag.
         And at my actions carp or catch.      --Herbert.

\Carp\, v. t.
1. To say; to tell. [Obs.]
2. To find fault with; to censure. [Obs.] --Dryden.

\Carp\, n.; pl. {Carp}, formerly {Carps}. [Cf. Icel. karfi,
Dan. karpe, Sw. karp, OHG. charpho, G. karpfen, F. carpe, LL.
carpa.] (Zo["o]l.)
A fresh-water herbivorous fish ({Cyprinus carpio}.). Several
other species of {Cyprinus}, {Catla}, and {Carassius} are
called carp. See {Cruclan carp}.
Note: The carp was originally from Asia, whence it was early
      introduced into Europe, where it is extensively reared
      in artificial ponds. Within a few years it has been
      introduced into America, and widely distributed by the
      government. Domestication has produced several
      varieties, as the leather carp, which is nearly or
      quite destitute of scales, and the mirror carp, which
      has only a few large scales. Intermediate varieties
      occur.
{Carp louse} (Zo["o]l.), a small crustacean, of the genus
   {Argulus}, parasitic on carp and allied fishes. See
   {Branchiura}.
{Carp mullet} (Zo["o]l.), a fish ({Moxostoma carpio}) of the
   Ohio River and Great Lakes, allied to the suckers.
{Carp sucker} (Zo["o]l.), a name given to several species of
   fresh-water fishes of the genus Carpiodes in the United
   States; -- called also quillback.