Cowrie (noun)

A small, glossy, marine snail that has a smooth, brightly colored shell, found in warm seas and used as a decorative object and as a medium of exchange in some cultures.

Origin:

From middle english cowry, from old french cowrie, from hindi कौड़ी (kaūṛī), from malayalam കൗരി (kōri).

Examples:

1. Cowries were once used as currency in many parts of Africa.
2. The necklace was made with hundreds of tiny cowrie shells.
3. The shells of cowrie were used to decorate the traditional clothing of islanders.
4. The cowrie shells were used as a form of currency in ancient Africa and Asia.
5. The cowrie shell is a symbol of good luck and prosperity in many cultures.