wampum

wam·pum  (wmpm, wôm-)

n.

1. Small cylindrical beads made from polished shells and fashioned into strings or belts, formerly used by certain Native American peoples as currency and jewelry or for ceremonial exchanges between groups. Also called peag.

2. Informal Money.

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[Short for wampumpeag.]

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wampum [ˈwɒmpəm]

n

1. (Social Science / Anthropology & Ethnology) (Economics, Accounting & Finance / Currencies) (formerly) money used by North American Indians, made of cylindrical shells strung or woven together, esp white shells rather than the more valuable black or purple ones

2. (Economics, Accounting & Finance / Banking & Finance) US and Canadian informal money or wealth Also called peag peage

[short for wampumpeag, from Narraganset wampompeag, from wampan light + api string + -ag plural suffix]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	wampum - informal terms for money             boodle, clams, dinero, gelt, kale, lettuce, lolly, lucre, moolah, pelf, shekels, simoleons, loot, dough, bread, cabbage, sugar, scratch money - the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender; "we tried to collect the money he owed us"
	2.	wampum - small cylindrical beads made from polished shells and fashioned into strings or belts; used by certain Native American peoples as jewelry or currency peag, wampumpeag beads, string of beads - several beads threaded together on a string