cowrie
/ˈkaʊrɪ/(亦作 cowry)
noun
(pl. -ies)
1- a marine mollusc which has a smooth, glossy, domed shell with a long narrow opening, typically brightly patterned and popular with collectors宝贝（一种海洋软体动物）。
1.1
- Genus Cypraea, family Cypraeidae, class Gastropoda: numerous species, including the small money cowrie (C. moneta).腹足纲, 宝贝科, 宝贝属： 多种, 包括很小的钱宝贝。
1.2
- the flattened yellowish shell of the money cowrie, formerly used as money in parts of Africa and the Indo-Pacific area（从前在非洲和印度洋-太平洋地区当货币用的）钱宝贝贝壳。
词源
mid 17th cent.: from Hindi kaurī.