What is another word for Cowries?

Pronunciation: [kˈa͡ʊɹɪz] (IPA)

Cowries, the small sea snails with colourful and glossy shells, have been widely used as currency, ornaments, and talismans. Synonyms for cowries include 'Cypraea', the scientific name of the genus that includes cowries, 'Porcelain shells', due to their smooth, polished and shiny shells that resemble fine china, 'Money cowries', as a reference to their traditional use as currency along the African coast, 'Sea money', another term, again emphasizing this use, and 'Cautionary shells' as they are traditionally believed to ward off evil spirits. They are also sometimes called 'Tiger cowries', referring to the spotted pattern on their shells that resemble the stripes of a tiger.

What are the hypernyms for Cowries?

A hypernym is a word with a broad meaning that encompasses more specific words called hyponyms.

Usage examples for Cowries

Sums of so small a value as three half-pence are thus paid; smaller ones being represented by Cowries.
"The Ethnology of the British Colonies and Dependencies"
Robert Gordon Latham
Sweet Charlotte lingered in the shade, Most gentle of all houris; Bright Carry in the lobby played With a pair of polished Cowries.
"Fringilla: Some Tales In Verse"
Richard Doddridge Blackmore
He identified Cowries, whelks, and some excellent specimens of Triton's horn.
"The Wailing Octopus"
Harold Leland Goodwin

Word of the Day

Ocular Disparity
Ocular disparity refers to the difference in perspective between the eyes, which allows for depth perception. The antonym of ocular disparity would be "ocular homogeneity," which r...