Wampum

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈwÉ’mpÉ™m/

Origin

From wampumpeag (from Narragansett), due to Europeans' mistaken interpretation of the term as a compound of ‘wampum’ + ‘peag’; it is, in fact, a compound of wamp, wompi ("white") + umpe ("string") + -ag (plural suffix.), in reference to the string of white shell-beads and not the individual beads.

Full definition of wampum

Noun

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

Synonyms

• (small beads) seawan, peag

Antonyms

• (white shells) suckanhock black shells

Derived terms

• wampum belt