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
There's a coquina quarry where laborers mined stones to build the majestic Castillo de San Marcos and other historic structures downtown.
—
Kara Franker, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2025
Rocks, sand dollars, coquina mollusks — anything the ocean gave up.
—CBS News, 2 Oct. 2024
The area’s history is revealed during a short hike that meanders through an old coquina quarry on the immediate righthand side of the park’s entrance.
—Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2024
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
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Kara Franker, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2025
Rocks, sand dollars, coquina mollusks — anything the ocean gave up.
—CBS News, 2 Oct. 2024
The area’s history is revealed during a short hike that meanders through an old coquina quarry on the immediate righthand side of the park’s entrance.
—Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2024
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
Cite this Entry
“Coquina.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coquina. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
coquina
noun
co·qui·na
kō-ˈkē-nə 
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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