The Spanish word 'gamba' comes from Italian 'gamba' meaning 'leg', which in turn derives from Latin 'camba' meaning 'leg (of animals)'. The Latin term can be traced back to Ancient Greek 'καμπή' (kampē) meaning 'curve' or 'bend'. The semantic evolution from 'curve/bend' to 'leg' likely came from the natural bend or curve of legs, particularly animal legs. In modern Spanish, 'gamba' can refer to both a leg and a large shrimp - this extended meaning to 'shrimp' likely developed due to the long, leg-like appearance of the crustacean.

While 'gamba' itself is a relatively common word in Spanish, particularly in its meaning of 'shrimp', there aren't many simpler or more common Spanish derivatives. However, you might encounter 'gambeta', which means a quick movement or dodge, clearly related to the idea of leg movement.

While English doesn't have many direct cognates from this Greek root, we do see it in some technical terms. The word 'gamba' itself appears in English as a musical term for a type of viola. The Greek root 'καμπή' (kampē) meaning 'bend' appears in technical terms like 'campimeter' (an instrument for testing visual fields) and 'campylotropous' (a botanical term describing a curved ovule). The connection to 'bend' or 'curve' is preserved in these scientific terms.