coquina

[ koh-kee-nuh ]

noun

1. Also called pompano, butterfly-shell clam. a small clam, Donax variabilis, abundant in the intertidal zone of eastern and southern U.S. coastal beaches, having fanlike bands of various hues, the paired empty shells often spread in a butterfly shape.
2. any similar clam, especially of the genus Donax.
3. a soft, whitish rock made up of fragments of marine shells and coral, used as a building material.

coquina

/ kɒˈkiːnə /

noun

1. a soft limestone consisting of shells, corals, etc, that occurs in parts of the US

coquina

/ kō-kē′nə /

1. A soft porous limestone, composed of shells and fragments of shell and coral that are partially cemented by material that is high in calcium carbonate and has not completely hardened.

Word History and Origins

Origin of coquina¹

1830–40, Americanism; < Spanish: literally, shellfish, equivalent to Old Spanish coc(a ) shellfish (< Latin concha; conch ) + -ina -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of coquina¹

C19: from Spanish: shellfish, probably from concha shell, conch

Example Sentences

Waves crashed along foundations and washed underneath homes with nicknames such as Coquina Reef and Sweet Home Carolina.

From Washington Post

That last part grabbed the attention of attorneys for Mar-a-Lago’s neighbors, who feared the appearance of rowdy booze cruises, loud boats and damage to precious underwater coquina rocks that they believe would be destroyed by dredging to deepen the channel and allow boats to pull up to the dock.

From Washington Post

Coquina Beach is south of Tampa.

From Seattle Times

Wade Fleming told The Associated Press on Monday that Lynn Fleming, who retired to Florida’s Gulf Coast, stumbled and fell into the water on Coquina Beach while her family was visiting from Pittsburgh.

From Seattle Times

Lynn Fleming, of Ellenton, Fla., had been visiting Coquina Beach with her son, daughter-in-law and their two sons two weeks ago when the fall happened.

From Fox News