Dictionary

manarvel en · VERB

Etymology

Unknown; probably related to manavelins.

Meanings

1. (obsolete, slang) To steal food or supplies from a ship's store.
   • The other three quarters didn't have the guts to manarvel the cargo. They were like jackals that are too cowardly to make their own kill, but must follow the trail of carcasses left by the lions and tigers. 1967, Hal Travers, Voyage Sixty-nine, page 458:
   • Zachary began to wonder whether the gomusta was not some kind of investigator, looking into a report of misplaced or manarveled provisions. Yet, why would he concern himself with butter of all things? 2009, Amitav Ghosh, Sea of Poppies, page 152:
   • His spirit lingers near the fortress at the other end of the remoseless depths where Theseus manarvels fleece. 2010, Henry Gould, Lanthanum, page 91:

Forms