from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Cowrie \Cow"rie\ Cowry \Cow"ry\(kou"r[y^]), n.; pl. {Cowries}
(-r[i^]z). [Hind. kaur[imac].] (Zool.)
A marine shell of the genus {Cypr[ae]a}.
[1913 Webster]
Note: There are numerous species, many of them ornamental.
Formerly {Cypr[ae]a 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.
[1913 Webster]