dentalium


den·ta·li·um

D0135300 (dĕn-tā′lē-əm)n. pl. den·ta·li·a (-lē-ə) or den·ta·li·ums Any of various tusk shells of the genus Dentalium, some of which are used for ornament and were used by native peoples of western North America as currency.
[New Latin Dentālium, genus name, from dentālis, toothy; see dental.]

dentalium

(dɛnˈteɪlɪəm) n, pl -liums or -lia (-lɪə) (Animals) any scaphopod mollusc of the genus Dentalium. See tusk shell[C19: New Latin, from Medieval Latin dentālis dental]