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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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 See all Example Sentences for cowrie