dentalium

American  

[den-tey-lee-uhm] / dɛnˈteɪ li əm /

noun

plural

dentaliums, dentalia

1. any tooth shell of the genus Dentalium.

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dentalium British  

/ dɛnˈteɪlɪəm /

noun

1. any scaphopod mollusc of the genus Dentalium See tusk shell

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Etymology

Origin of dentalium

1860–65; < New Latin < Medieval Latin dentāl ( is ) dental + -ium -ium

Example Sentences

At the unveiling, Shaginoff wore a fire bag she’d made and decorated with dentalium shells.

From Seattle Times

Dentalium, a tusk shell often used in Indigenous jewelry, caught her eye in particular.

From Los Angeles Times

“I love it, because back in the day, our Cheyenne women wore a lot of dentalium,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

In July, she dropped her first collection of beadwork on Instagram; it included a set of earrings layered with two-tiers of dentalium shells and Swarovski crystals, and another pair with blooming flowers stitched with beads onto moose hide.

From New York Times

A young Native woman smiles softly, wearing a teal T-shirt paired with dentalium earrings.

From Los Angeles Times