cypraea moneta
Definition
- Noun:
- A species of cowrie: Cypraea moneta is a marine gastropod mollusk belonging to the family Cypraeidae, commonly known as a cowrie.
- Historical currency: The shell of this specific cowrie has been widely used as a form of money, ornament, and ritual object, particularly in parts of the southern Pacific and Africa.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Archaeologists found Cypraea moneta shells at the ancient trading site.
- In some cultures, Cypraea moneta was more valuable than metal coins.
Advanced Usage
- "to be valued like Cypraea moneta": to be highly prized or used as a fundamental unit of value.
- In that society, certain textiles were valued like Cypraea moneta.
Variants and Related Words
- Money cowrie: The common English name for .
- The money cowrie was a key item in trans-Saharan trade.
- Cowrie (or cowry): The general term for shells of the family Cypraeidae.
- Various cowrie species are found in tropical seas.
Synonyms
- Monetary shell: A descriptive synonym emphasizing its use as currency.
- Currency shell: Another term highlighting its historical economic function.
Related Phrases
- Shell money: A broader term for any mollusk shell used as currency, which includes .
- Shell money, such as Cypraea moneta, facilitated trade across vast distances.
Related Idioms
- Not worth a cowrie: Means something is completely worthless (using the general term "cowrie," which historically included the valuable ).
- His promise turned out not to be worth a cowrie.
Noun
-
cowrie whose shell is used for money in parts of the southern Pacific and in parts of Africa
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