coquina

noun

co·​qui·​na kō-ˈkē-nə How to pronounce coquina (audio)
1
: a soft whitish limestone formed of broken shells and corals cemented together and used for building
2
: a small wedge-shaped clam (Donax variabilis) used for broth or chowder and occurring in the intertidal zone of sandy Atlantic beaches from Delaware to the Gulf of Mexico

Examples of coquina in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web To improve your chances of finding those delicate coquinas, cockles, conchs, sand dollars, and those rare scotch bonnets, hit the beach at low tide when there is more shoreline for walking, or go in the morning. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 20 June 2023 Angel wings, whelks, slipper shells, arks, pen shells, cockles, jingles, coquinas, augers, and olive shells are among the most common found in local waters and on the beach. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 20 June 2023 That means Lone Star State residents have plenty of prime shell-hunting territory, particularly on Little Shell and Big Shell beaches, where cockles, quahogs, and coquinas can be found. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 20 June 2023 Made partially out of ground coquina shells in the 1600s, this fort, which served to protect St. Augustine, still stands to this day, despite having been under the control of numerous countries during its esteemed history. Todd Piro, Fox News, 30 Aug. 2018 The boardwalk featured a strip of shops built of the same coquina as the band shell and exuded just the right amount of carnival atmosphere. Joy Wallace Dickinson, OrlandoSentinel.com, 13 May 2018 In the Murat House, circa 1790, a painstaking renovation uncovered original interior coquina walls. Nancy Moreland, Orlando Signature, 28 July 2017 BANDSHELL BASH June 3, 9, 10, 17, 23, 24 Daytona Beach Bandshell Concert Series The historic coquina-stone amphitheater at Oceanfront Park is the venue — complete with a view of the Atlantic Ocean — for Daytona Beach’s free summer concerts. Susan Friedman, Orlando Signature, 19 May 2017 BANDSHELL BASH June 3, 9, 10, 17, 23, 24 Daytona Beach Bandshell Concert Series The historic coquina-stone amphitheater at Oceanfront Park is the venue — complete with a view of the Atlantic Ocean — for Daytona Beach’s free summer concerts. Susan Friedman, Orlando Signature, 19 May 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coquina.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, probably diminutive of coca head, alteration of coco bogeyman, coconut

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of coquina was in 1837

Dictionary Entries Near coquina

Cite this Entry

“Coquina.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coquina. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

coquina

noun
co·​qui·​na kō-ˈkē-nə How to pronounce coquina (audio)
1
: a soft whitish limestone formed of broken shells and corals cemented together and used for building
2
: a small marine clam used especially to make broth or chowder

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