(definition) by Webster 1913 Tue Dec 21 1999 at 22:46:49

Cow"rie (-r?), n. Bot.

Same as Kauri.

 

© Webster 1913.

Cow"rie Cow"ry (kou"r?), n.; pl. Cowries (-rz). [Hind. kaur.] Zool.

A marine shell of the genus Cypraea.

There are numerous species, many of them ornamental. Formerly C. moneta and several other species were largely used as money in Africa and some other countries, and they are still so used to some extent. The value is always trifling, and varies at different places.

 

© Webster 1913.

del.icio.us Facebook Digg StumbleUpon Reddit (unvotable) (I like it!)
Y'know, if you log in, you can write something here, or contact authors directly on the site. Create a New User if you don't already have an account.