wampum
IPA: wˈɑmpʌm
noun
- (uncountable) Small cylindrical beads made from polished shells (especially white ones) which have been strung together, formerly used by Native American peoples of eastern North America for various purposes including as jewellery and money, and for record-keeping; (countable, archaic) one such bead.
- (uncountable, slang) Money.
- (countable, obsolete) Short for wampum snake (“the common kingsnake or eastern kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula)”) [(obsolete) The common kingsnake or eastern kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula).]
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Examples of "wampum" in Sentences
- The word wampum [wompam], [1] which has since become a general term, was restricted by the Indians to the white beads.
- The wampum was her family record, badge of her office; speech made while holding it was tantamount to testimony made upon the Bible.
- I admired his war-girdle and moccasins, speaking somewhat carelessly of the beautiful shell-work designs as "wampum" -- an Iroquois term.
- [80] That is, the French commander said that the Indians had accepted wampum from the French towns, and therefore could not complain of them.
- Almost all the natives had Indian money, called wampum, which they made from abalone or clam-shells by cutting out round pieces like buttons or small, hollow beads.
- 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.
- 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.
- The shells of these clams are used by the Indians as money, and make what they call their wampum; they likewise serve their women for an ornament when they intend to appear in full dress.
- The shells of these clams are used by the Indians as money, and make what they call their wampum; they likewise serve their women for an ornament, when they intend to appear in full dress.
- Rich furs, green tobacco and long strings of gay and polished shells called wampum were gladly exchanged by the Indians for bits of colored glass, beads, hatchets and knives, commencing a trade that was later extensively carried on in the north by the Hudson Bay Trading Company, and at the mouth of the river by the Dutch settlers.
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