carp

Any of various freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae; specifically the common carp, Cyprinus carpio.

The Carp is a ſtately, a good, and a ſubtle fiſh, a fiſh that hath not (as it is ſaid) been long in England, but ſaid to be by one Mr. Maſcall (a Gentleman then living at Plumſted in Suſſex) brought into this Nation: […] Carps and Loches are obſerved to breed ſeveral months in one year, vvhich moſt other fiſh do not, and it is the rather believed, becauſe you ſhall ſcarce or never take a Male Carp vvithout a Melt, or a Female vvithout a Roe or Spavvn; […]

Like scaly carp and feathered swan To nature's world we do belong.

To criticize or complain about a fault, especially for frivolous or petty reasons; to cavil.

Here agayne Seruetto carpeth, yͭ God did beare the perſon of an Angel. As thoughe the Prophete did not confirme that whiche Moſes had ſaied: why doeſt thou aſke me of my name?

Enuie vvhy carpeſt thou my time is ſpent ſo ill, / And termſt my vvorkes fruites of an idle quill.

To speak, to talk; also, to talk about a subject in speech or writing.

To talk much but to little purpose; to chatter, to prattle.

And some of them barke, / Clatter and carpe / Of that heresy arte / Called Wicleuista, / The deuelysshe dogmatista; […]

And therwithall came curiouſneſſe and carped out of frame. / The audience laught to heare the ſtrife as they beheld the ſame.

Of a bird: to sing; of a person (such as a minstrel): to sing or recite.

Hys hart is to hy to haue any hap; / But for in his gamut carp that he can, / Lo, Jak wold be a jentylman!

Then aye he harped, and aye he carped, / Till a' the Lordlings footed the floor; / But an' the music was sae sweet, / The groom had nae mind o' the stable door.

To say or tell (something).

An instance of, or speech, complaining or criticizing about a fault, especially for frivolous or petty reasons; a cavil.