Lexember 7: Cowry String

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Nitherian word: lai “string of 36 cowry shells”

From: Old Maritime laɥ, accusative plural of la “string”.

Strings of cowry shells were the most common everyday currency for Maritimers, and they saw some use in Nitheria as well, especially in the northern regions near the sea.

Example:

Moyomelaslyosla tlwa islo tho lai.

[mo.jo.me.laˈɬjo.ɬa
Mo-yo-mela-sly-o-sla
PFV-give-down-BEN.APPL3s1s.A
tɬwa
tlwa
pineapple
ˈi.ɬo
i-slo
with-3p
ðo
tho
two
laj]
lai
cowry.string
I paid two cowry strings for some pineapples.

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