mumble-bee en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈmʌmbl̩bi/
Etymology
Origin uncertain; apparently an alteration of bumblebee. According to Wilfrid Granville (A Dictionary of Sailors’ Slang, 1962), “they were modelled on the oyster-fishing boats of the Mumbles district near Swansea”.
Meanings
- (Devon, historical) A kind of small trawling vessel.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| mumble-bees | Number=Plur | lexicographic |