wampum

English

Etymology

Clipped from wampumpeag (from Narragansett; cf. the opposite clipping peag), which is a compound of wamp, wompi (“white”) + umpe (“string”) + -ag (plural suffix), and referred to the string of white shell-beads rather than the individual beads.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈwɒmpəm/

Noun

wampum (plural wampums or wampum)

Small beads made from polished shells, especially white ones, formerly used as money and jewelry by certain Native American peoples.
(informal) Money.

Synonyms

(small beads): seawan, peag

Antonyms

(white shells): suckanhock (black shells)

Derived terms

wampum belt

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