| 释义 |
cowrie, cowry|ˈkaʊərɪ|
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 narow aperture as long as the shell; e.g. Cypræa Europæa, the common cowrie of the British coast.
1662J. Davies tr. Mandelslo's E. Ind. i. (1669) 68 They [of Guzuratta] also make use of..certain Shells, which they call Kaurets. 1678J. Phillips Tavernier's Trav. Ind. i. ii. 22 Their other small Money are the little Shells which they call Cori. 1698Phil. Trans. XX. 273 The small Shells, called Cowries, which pass for Money in Bengale and other places. 1727A. Hamilton New Acc. E. Ind. I. xxviii. 347 Their Trade is chiefly from a small Shell-fish called Courie. c1813Mrs. Sherwood Ayah & Lady i. 9 She wanted a few cowries to buy khauna. 1857Wood Common Obj. Sea-shore ii. 22 The little shell..is one of the cowries. 1884Miss North Lett. from Seychelles in Pall Mall G. 21 Jan. (Y.), A lovely cowrie two inches long, like mottled tortoise-shell.
2. attrib., as in cowrie-shell.
1817Colebrooke Algebra 1 Twice ten cowry shells are a cáciní. 1875Jevons Money (1878) 24 Cowry shells..have long been used in the East Indies as small money. |