beche de mer etymology

Etymology

The term "bêche de mer" comes from the French language and literally means "sea spade".

Meaning

Bêche de mer refers to various species of sea cucumbers, particularly those that are commercially valuable for their dried and processed forms.

Origin

The term "bêche de mer" has been used for centuries to refer to sea cucumbers. It is believed to have originated in the early 16th century when French sailors and explorers encountered these marine creatures in the Indian Ocean.

Due to their resemblance to the spade-like tools (bêches) used for digging, the French sailors gave them the name "bêche de mer". This term eventually spread to other European languages and remains in use today as the common name for edible sea cucumbers.

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