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
Other artifacts on view include ceremonial cowrie shell baskets, flags from various slave rebellions, and slave badges from markets across North and South America.
—
Kaila Philo, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Jan. 2025
Comprised of cowrie shells, the collar was elegant and a unique take on garbs worn during monumental, history-defining moments.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 21 Jan. 2025
Beyond its status as a protective talisman, the cowrie is also associated with womanhood and fertility.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2025
Her latest album was partly recorded in Dakar, and the cowrie shell has become a signature accessory.
—Lynsey Chutel, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for cowrie 
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Kaila Philo, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Jan. 2025
Comprised of cowrie shells, the collar was elegant and a unique take on garbs worn during monumental, history-defining moments.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 21 Jan. 2025
Beyond its status as a protective talisman, the cowrie is also associated with womanhood and fertility.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2025
Her latest album was partly recorded in Dakar, and the cowrie shell has become a signature accessory.
—Lynsey Chutel, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for cowrie
Dictionary Entries Near cowrie
Cite this Entry
“Cowrie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cowrie. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cowrie
noun
cow·rie
variants
also cowry
plural cowries
: any of numerous usually small snails of warm seas with glossy often brightly colored shells
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