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Definition of cowrie

cowrie

/ˈkaʊ.ri/
cow · rie
Plural:cowries
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cowrie Lexical Profile

cowrie Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The smooth, glossy, porcelain-like shell of a tropical marine snail, historically used as a medium of exchange in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.

Example

"The museum exhibit featured strings of polished cowrie shells that were once used as currency along West African trade routes."

2

Any of various tropical marine gastropod mollusks of the family Cypraeidae that inhabit warm coral reefs and produce rounded, brightly patterned shells.

Example

"While snorkeling near the reef, the marine biologist spotted a live cowrie grazing on algae."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for cowrie

• Rhymes for cowrie

• Nearby Words

cowplop
cowpoke
cowpox
cowrie
cowrite
cowriter
cowshed

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the 17th century from Hindi and Urdu 'kauri', which ultimately derives from Sanskrit 'kaparda', referring to a small shell used as currency.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cowrie. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cowrie
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