Word Study
beachcomber
CIDE DICTIONARY
beachcomber,
- A vagrant seaman, usually of low character, who loiters about seaports, particularly on the shores and islands of the Pacific Ocean. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]"I was fortunate enough, however, to forgather with a Scotchman who was a beach-comber." [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
- a vagrant living on a beach. [WordNet 1.5]
- a person who searches along a beach for objects of value, such as lost objects or seashells. [PJC]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
beachcomber, n.
1 a vagrant who lives by searching beaches for articles of value.
2 a long wave rolling in from the sea.
1 a vagrant who lives by searching beaches for articles of value.
2 a long wave rolling in from the sea.
THESAURUS
beachcomber
Arab, Bowery bum, beach bum, beggar, beggarly fellow, blighter, bo, budmash, bum, bummer, caitiff, derelict, devil, dogie, drifter, drunkard, gamin, gamine, good-for-naught, good-for-nothing, guttersnipe, hobo, homeless waif, human wreck, idler, landloper, lazzarone, loafer, losel, lowlife, mauvais sujet, mean wretch, mucker, mudlark, no-good, pauvre diable, piker, pilgarlic, poor creature, poor devil, ragamuffin, ragman, ragpicker, rounder, sad case, sad sack, ski bum, skid-row bum, stiff, stray, street Arab, street urchin, sundowner, surf bum, swagman, swagsman, tatterdemalion, tennis bum, tramp, truant, turnpiker, urchin, vag, vagabond, vagrant, vaurien, waif, waifs and strays, wastrel, worthless fellow, wretchFor further exploring for "beachcomber" in Webster Dictionary Online