bêches-de-mer

Variant of bêche-de-mer

bêche-de-mer definition

bêche-de-mer (bes̸h də mer′)

noun

  1. pl. bêches-de-mer (bes̸h də mer′) trepang
  2. a mixed trade language, largely a pidgin based on English, spoken in island areas of the SW Pacific

Etymology: Fr, worm of the sea; altered < Port bicho do mar, sea slug

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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