Beach-la-Mar

[ beech-luh-mahr ]

noun

1. Neo-Melanesian.

Beach-la-Mar

/ ˌbiːtʃləˈmɑː /

noun

1. an English-based creole language spoken in Vanuatu and Fiji, and formerly much more widespread Also calledBiche-la-mar

Word History and Origins

Origin of Beach-la-Mar¹

Alteration of bêche-de-mer a well-known trade item in the region where this type of pidgin is spoken

Word History and Origins

Origin of Beach-la-Mar¹

C19: quasi-French, from bêche-de-mer (trepang, this being a major trading commodity in the SW Pacific; hence the name was applied to the trading language)