Definitions for cowry
cow·ry

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. cowrie, cowrynoun

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

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. cowrynoun

   Any of the marine molluscs of the genus Cypraea.

2. cowrynoun

   The money cowry, Cypraea moneta.

3. Etymology: "small shell", via Hindi and Urdu kauri, from Mahrati kavadi, from Skt. kaparda (Source : Tamil கொடு kotu "shell")

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. cowry

   Cowrie or cowry (pl. cowries) is the common name for a group of small to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries. The term porcelain derives from the old Italian term for the cowrie shell (porcellana) due to their similar appearance. Shells of certain species have historically been used as currency in several parts of the world, as well as being used, in the past and present, very extensively in jewelry, and for other decorative and ceremonial purposes. The cowrie was the shell most widely used worldwide as shell money. It is most abundant in the Indian Ocean, and was collected in the Maldive Islands, in Sri Lanka, along the Indian Malabar coast, in Borneo and on other East Indian islands, in Maluku in the Pacific, and in various parts of the African coast from Ras Hafun to Mozambique. Cowrie shell money was important in the trade networks of Africa, South Asia, and East Asia. In the United States and Mexico, cowrie species inhabit the waters off Central California to Baja California (the chestnut cowrie is the only cowrie species native to the eastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of the United States; further south, off the coast of Mexico, Central America and Peru, Little Deer Cowrie habitat can be found; and further into the Pacific from Central America, the Pacific habitat range of Money Cowrie can be reached) as well as the waters south of the Southeastern United States.Some species in the family Ovulidae are also often referred to as cowries. In the British Isles the local Trivia species (family Triviidae, species Trivia monacha and Trivia arctica) are sometimes called cowries. The Ovulidae and the Triviidae are other families within Cypraeoidea, the superfamily of cowries and their close relatives.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Cowrynoun

   a marine shell of the genus Cypraea

2. Etymology: [Hind. kaur.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Cowry

   Cowry or cowrie, plural cowries, is the common name for a group of small to large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries. The word cowry is also often used to refer only to the shells of these snails, which overall are often shaped more or less like an egg, except that they are rather flat on the underside. Many people throughout history have found the very rounded, shiny, porcelain-like shells of cowries pleasing to look at and to handle. Indeed the term "porcelain" derives from the old Italian term for the cowrie shell due to their similar translucent appearance. Shells of certain species have historically been used as currency in several parts of the world, as well as being used, in the past and present, very extensively in jewellery, and for other decorative and ceremonial purposes. Some species in the family Ovulidae are also often referred to as cowries. In the British Isles the local Trivia species are sometimes called cowries. The Ovulidae and the Triviidae are somewhat closely related to the Cypraeidae.

Matched Categories

1. • Gastropod

How to pronounce cowry?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say cowry in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of cowry in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of cowry in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=cowry
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Cowry
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowry
4. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cowry
5. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=cowry