Beachcomber

/ˈbiːtʃkoʊmər/ noun

Definition

A person who regularly searches beaches for valuable or interesting objects, including shells, sea glass, driftwood, or sometimes salvageable cargo.

Etymology

English agent noun formed from 'beachcomb' (to search the beach) + '-er' (one who does), originally referring to sailors or wanderers who combed beaches for survival.

Kelly Says

Historical beachcombers were often sailors or castaways who depended on ocean cargo and debris to survive, and their knowledge of what washed ashore made them valuable to colonial settlements.

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