bêche-de-mer

noun

ˌbesh-də-ˈmer 

ˌbāsh-

1

plural bêche-de-mer or bêches-de-mer ˌbesh-də-ˈmer 

ˌbe-shəz-,

ˌbāsh-

: trepang

2

capitalized B&M : any of several English-based pidgins spoken on islands of the western Pacific

Word History

Etymology

French, alteration of biche de mer, from Portuguese bicho do mar, literally, sea worm

First Known Use

1783, in the meaning defined at sense 1