noun
- small cylindrical beads made from shells, used by Native Americans as currency and for ceremonial purposes
Usage: historical
Examples
- The colonists learned to use wampumpeag in trade with local tribes.
- Strings of wampumpeag served as both currency and diplomatic gifts.
- The museum displayed belts made from white and purple wampumpeag.
- Native American artisans crafted intricate patterns using wampumpeag beads.
- Early European settlers adopted wampumpeag as a medium of exchange.