COWRY

cowrie, cowry

(noun) any of numerous tropical marine gastropods of the genus Cypraea having highly polished usually brightly marked shells

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Noun

cowry (plural cowries)

Alternative spelling of cowrie

Source: Wiktionary


Cow"rie Cow"ry (kou"r), n.; pl. Cowries (-r. Etym: [Hind. kaur.] (Zoöl.)

Definition: A marine shell of the genus Cypræa.

Note: There are numerous species, many of them ornamental. Formerly C. moneta and several other species were largely used as money in Africa and some other countries, and they are still so used to some extent. The value is always trifling, and varies at different places.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

22 January 2025

MEGALITH

(noun) memorial consisting of a very large stone forming part of a prehistoric structure (especially in western Europe)


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.

coffee icon