Pronunciation: ˌ besh-d ə - ' mer, ˌ b ā sh-
Function: noun
Etymology: F, alteration of biche de mer, from Portuguese bicho do mar, literally, sea worm
Date: 1783
1 plural bêche-de-mer or bêches-de-mer \ ˌ besh-d ə -, ˌ be-sh ə z-, ˌ b ā sh- \ : TREPANG
2 capitalized B&M : any of several English-based pidgins spoken on islands of the western Pacific