tête-bêche

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/tɛtˈbɛʃ/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(tet besh′)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
tête-bêche  (tet besh′),USA pronunciation adj. [Philately.]
  1. Stampsof or pertaining to a pair of stamps that have been printed with one stamp inverted.
  • French, equivalent. to tête head + bêche, reduced from béchevet placed with the head of one against the foot of the other
  • 1880–85

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
tête-bêche /tɛtˈbɛʃ/ adj
  1. (of an unseparated pair of stamps) printed so that one is inverted in relation to the other
Etymology: 19th Century: from French, from tête head + bêche, from obsolete béchevet double-headed (originally of a bed)
'tête-bêche' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
pane

Forum discussions with the word(s) "tête-bêche" in the title:


Look up "tête-bêche" at Merriam-Webster
Look up "tête-bêche" at dictionary.com
  • Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks.

In other languages: Spanish | French | Italian | Portuguese | Romanian | German | Dutch | Swedish | Russian | Polish | Czech | Greek | Turkish | Chinese | Japanese | Korean | Arabic

Advertisements
Advertisements
Report an inappropriate ad.
WordReference.com
WORD OF THE DAY
GET THE DAILY EMAIL!

Become a WordReference Supporter to view the site ad-free.