bêche-de-mer

[ besh-duh-mair, beysh- ]

noun

, plural bêch·es-de-mer, (especially collectively) bêche-de-mer

1. a trepang.
2. Often Bêche-de-Mer. Neo-Melanesian.

bêche-de-mer

/ ˌbɛʃdəˈmɛə /

noun

1. See trepang
   another name for trepang
2. See Beach-la-Mar
   See Beach-la-Mar

Word History and Origins

Origin of bêche-de-mer¹

1805–15; erroneously for French biche de mer < Portuguese bicho do mar literally, animal of the sea; Beach-la-Mar

Word History and Origins

Origin of bêche-de-mer¹

C19: quasi-French, from earlier English biche de mer , from Portuguese bicho do mar worm of the sea

Example Sentences

On the reefs of the Southern Ocean is found a kind of sea-slug termed the Beche-de-mer.

From Project Gutenberg

The beche de mer industry has also been a great help to business people in Cooktown.

From Project Gutenberg

He was just back from a long cruise to the westward, fishing beche-de-mer and sandalwood trading.

From Project Gutenberg

There were traders old and young, beche-de-mer fishermen, old beach-combers and blackbirders.

From Project Gutenberg

We must fill the three schooners with copra and beche-de-mer.

From Project Gutenberg