1. a small, glossy sea shell with a smooth, oval shape, often used as currency or decoration in various cultures

Examples

• The museum displayed ancient cowry shells that were once used as money in Africa.
• She collected beautiful cowry shells along the tropical beach.
• Traders used cowry shells as a form of currency for centuries.
• The necklace was decorated with small white cowry shells.
• Cowry shells were highly valued in traditional West African commerce.
• The anthropologist studied how cowry shells spread as currency across different continents.