1. Plural of dentale; tooth-shaped shells or objects, especially those used as currency or ornaments by certain Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest.
Usage: anthropology; historical; often capitalized when referring to the specific shells used by Native American tribes
2. In zoology, a class of small marine mollusks with elongated, tusk-like shells.
Usage: scientific; technical

Examples

• The museum displayed a collection of dentalia that had been traded among Pacific Northwest tribes.
• Dentalia shells were highly valued as a form of wealth in traditional Indigenous economies.
• Archaeologists found dentalia beads woven into ceremonial garments.
• The dentalia class includes small mollusks adapted to deep ocean environments.
• Collectors prize authentic dentalia for their historical and cultural significance.