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. another name for trepang
2. 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

The slowing economy in China might have been expected to dampen prices for bêche-de-mer, but the new study, by the National Marine Science Centre, at Southern Cross University, in Australia, indicates otherwise.

From National Geographic

From the ceiling of the kitchen hang pieces of bacon, and salami, and black bêche-de-mer.

From Literature

In 1881 fifteen Acts, exclusive of appropriations, were passed, among which were the Macalister Pension Act, authorising the payment to the ex-Agent-General of a pension of �500 a year; the Pearl-shell and Beche-de-mer Fishery Act; the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, and the United Municipalities Act.

From Project Gutenberg

European sailors still continued to pour into the islands, for after the exhaustion of the sandal-wood forests, whalers began to frequent the group, and there sprang up a desultory, but profitable trade in beche-de-mer, the sea-slug so highly prized by Chinese epicures, and in cocoanut oil.

From Project Gutenberg

Of these latter exports, rattans and gurjan oil are the chief; other natural products of the islands are trepang—bêche-de-mer—tortoiseshell and edible birds' nests, but they are only collected in small quantities.

From Project Gutenberg