beachcomber

noun

beach·​comb·​er ˈbēch-ˌkō-mər How to pronounce beachcomber (audio)
1
: a white man living as a drifter or loafer especially on the islands of the South Pacific
2
: a person who searches along a shore (as for salable refuse or for seashells)
beachcomb verb

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Embrace your inner beachcomber and fuel up with a lobster tostada in your private bungalow before deep house music takes over at sunset. Leah Romero, ELLE, 10 Mar. 2023 Just three days ago, a beachcomber on a beach in the United Kingdom discovered a rusted mortar round that might have once held mustard gas. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 19 June 2020 The remains of Robert Ryan Leach, 32, were discovered by a beachcomber on the morning of April 7 south of Canyon Drive Park, according to Lincoln City police. oregonlive, 28 Apr. 2022 Most of the action is found on the wide boardwalk, its wood planks weathered like a beachcomber’s skin. Todd C. Frankel, Washington Post, 28 May 2021 The beachcomber protecting feet from sharp coral, the springtime trail runner crossing damp riverbeds, and the hiker tackling the Narrows in Zion National Park each require a different water shoe, designed for specific conditions. Janna Irons, Popular Mechanics, 26 Mar. 2020 That same year, beachcombers found dozens of smelly plastic disks about 2 feet in diameter lying in Corolla and Kill Devil Hills. Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2020 That’s changing fast, thanks in part to beachcombers like van Wingerden. Andrew Curry, Science | AAAS, 30 Jan. 2020 Sneaker waves -- the kind that suddenly surge along a beach, picking up giant driftwood logs or dragging beachcombers into the ocean -- will be possible on the Oregon coast throughout the weekend, the National Weather Service warns. oregonlive, 23 Nov. 2019 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'beachcomber.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of beachcomber was in 1836

Dictionary Entries Near beachcomber

Cite this Entry

“Beachcomber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beachcomber. Accessed 23 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

beachcomber

noun
beach·​comb·​er ˈbēch-ˌkō-mər How to pronounce beachcomber (audio)
1
: a drifter or loafer especially on a South Pacific island
2
: a person who searches along a beach (as for seashells or items to sell)

More from Merriam-Webster on beachcomber

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