cowrie

Etymology

Mid-17th century, borrowed from Hindi कौड़ी (kauṛī).

noun

  1. A small gastropod (Monetaria moneta, syn. Cypraea moneta) common in the Indian Ocean; its shell.
  2. (by extension, dated) Any gastropod of the genus Cypraea; its shell.
  3. (by extension) Any gastropod of the family Cypraeidae; its shell.

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