debeard

verb

de·beard (ˌ)dē-ˈbird

debearded; debearding; debeards

transitive verb

: to remove the byssus from (a mussel)

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of debeard was in 1980

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

debeak

debeard

debel

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Debeard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debeard. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fidelity

Listen to the pronunciation of fidelity

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Popular in Wordplay

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)