cowrie

noun

cow·​rie ˈkau̇-rē 

variants or less commonly cowry

plural cowries

: any of various marine gastropods (family Cypraeidae) that are widely distributed in warm seas and have glossy and often brightly colored shells

also : the shell of a cowrie

Examples of cowrie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Inside were stone benches and mats made from tamarisk twigs, an altar and a heap of cowrie shells apparently once strung up in a curtain across the door. —Jo Marchant, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 June 2024

The significance of the cowrie shell in Ghana dates to its historical use as currency, and by extension, its connotation with wealth and abundance. —Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 14 Mar. 2024

Actor Theo Iyer also made a statement in a Kwasi Paul design with cowrie shell piping. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2024

For centuries, cowrie shells have had a deep cultural and spiritual significance in many African cultures and were once even used as currency across continents. —Gabi Thorne, Allure, 23 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu kauṛī

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cowrie

noun

cow·​rie

variants also cowry

ˈkau̇(ə)r-ē 

plural cowries

: any of numerous usually small snails of warm seas with glossy often brightly colored shells