1
Stage 1 of 4
kaparda
Sanskrit · ancient
"a small sea shell"
named the small shell used as ornament and currency
2
Stage 2 of 4
kavadi
Marathi · medieval
"cowrie shell"
the word passed into western Indian vernacular
3
Stage 3 of 4
kauri
Hindi · medieval
"shell used as currency"
became the everyday North Indian term for the shell-money
4
Stage 4 of 4
cowrie
English · 1660s
"a small glossy shell once used as currency"
British traders adopted the word for the shells used across Asian and African trade networks
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