Definition of dentalium in English:
dentalium
nounPlural dentalia dɛnˈteɪlɪəmdenˈtālēəm
1
Genus Dentalium, class Scaphopoda
as modifier dentalium shells are ideal for use with beadwork because they're lightweight and easy to work with
another term for tusk shell
Example sentencesExamples
- By the Cretaceous, fossils with well-defined longitudinal ridges appear, as in modern species of Dentalium and its close relatives (Family Dentaliidae).
- Probably the failure of this ornament to gain acceptance among the Dakota tribes was due to their preference for and quite common use of a very similar choker of dentalium shells.
- In 1868 the Teton Dakota (Oglala and Brule) wore similar breastplates of dentalium shells.
- In latter times beadwork was often substituted for quillwork and dentalium shells were often used.
- 1.1usually dentaliahistorical Tusk shells used as currency, especially by some North American Indian peoples.
he gave them handfuls of dentalia, for which his father-in-law and his brothers-in-law gave him slaves and valuable furs
mass noun a white mare purchased with dentalium
Example sentencesExamples
- Dentalia were very important to the Yurok as wealth items.
- At first, only dentalia shells were placed as bets.
- One basic unit of currency was dentalia: tubular, tusk-shaped shells, often scrimshawed or intricately wrapped in black and red snakeskin.
- Historical accounts list the value of slaves in dentalia, or tooth shells.
Origin
Modern Latin, from late Latin dentalis (see dental).