manarvel

English

Etymology

Unknown; probably related to manavelins.

Verb

manarvel (third-person singular simple present manarvels, present participle manarveling or manarvelling, simple past and past participle manarveled or manarvelled)

1. (nautical slang, obsolete) To steal food or supplies from a ship's store.
   • 1967, Hal Travers, Voyage Sixty-nine, page 458:

     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.

   • 2009, Amitav Ghosh, Sea of Poppies, page 152:

     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?

   • 2010, Henry Gould, Lanthanum, page 91:

     His spirit lingers near the fortress at the other end of the remoseless depths where Theseus manarvels fleece.

Alternative forms

• manavel