Forms: 7 (kauret), cowrey, cori, 8 cowree, cauri(e, 7–9 courie, 9 couri, -y, cowri, -y, 7– cowrie, cowry. [a. Hindī and Urdū kauṛī (kauḍī):—Skr. kaparda, kapardika.]
1. The porcelain-like shell of a small gastropod, Cypræa moneta, found abundantly in the Indian Ocean, and used as money in some parts of Africa and Southern Asia; also the animal itself. b. gen. Any gastropod (or its shell) of the genus Cypræa or family Cypræidæ, characterized by their oval shape, undeveloped spire, and narrow aperture as long as the shell; e.g., Cypræa Europæa, the common cowrie of the British coast.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Mandelslo’s E. Ind., I. (1669), 68. They [of Guzuratta] also make use of … certain Shells, which they call Kaurets.
1678. J. Phillips, Tavernier’s Trav. Ind., II. I. ii. 22. Their other small Money are the little Shells which they call Cori.
1698. Phil. Trans., XX. 273. The small Shells, called Cowries, which pass for Money in Bengale and other places.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. xxviii. 347. Their Trade is chiefly from a small Shell-fish called Courie.
c. 1813. Mrs. Sherwood, Ayah & Lady, i. 9. She wanted a few cowries to buy khauna.
1857. Wood, Common Obj. Sea-shore, ii. 22. The little shell … is one of the cowries.
1884. Miss North, Lett. from Seychelles, in Pall Mall Gaz., 21 Jan., 5/1 (Y.). A lovely cowrie two inches long like mottled tortoise-shell.
2. attrib., as in cowrie-shell.
1817. Colebrooke, Algebra, 1. Twice ten cowry shells are a cáciní.
1875. Jevons, Money (1878), 24. Cowry shells … have long been used in the East Indies as small money.
