zimbi

English

Noun

zimbi (plural zimbi)

  1. (archaic) A cowrie shell, once used as a form of currency in parts of Africa.
    • 2019 April 27, Knight's Penny Magazine, volume 13, page 159:
      In the kingdom of Congo there is said to be another kind of shell current, called zimbi. Two thousand of these zimbi form a maconti or macinte; and one of the writers on Central Africa some years ago stated that two Flemish knives were deemed worth a maconti; a copper basin, two pounds in weight and twelve inches in diameter, three maconti; a fusee, ten macontis, &c.
    • 1850, John Macgregor, Commercial statistics: A digest of the productive resources, commercial legislation, customs tariffs, of all nations. Including all British commercial treaties with foreign states:
      It is true that the inhabitants of Congo do also make use of shells, by them called zimbi, or zinibi; but these are carried to them only by the Portuguese, who are in a manner masters of this great kingdom.
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