bêche-de-mer

[besh-duh-mair, beysh-]

noun

plural

bêches-de-mer ,

plural

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