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wampum

   Also found in: Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
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.

[Short for wampumpeag.]

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]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.wampum - informal terms for moneywampum - informal terms for money            
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 beltswampum - small cylindrical beads made from polished shells and fashioned into strings or belts; used by certain Native American peoples as jewelry or currency
beads, string of beads - several beads threaded together on a string


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The Indians had a sort of money, called wampum, which was made of clam-shells; and this strange sort of specie was likewise taken in payment of debts by the English settlers.
He also bore a knife in a girdle of wampum, like that which confined the scanty garments of the Indian, but no tomahawk.
The men, especially, who in savage life carry a passion for personal decoration further than the females, did not think their gala equipments complete unless they had a jewel of hiaqua, or wampum, dangling at the nose.
 
 
 
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