noun
- plural of wampum; small cylindrical beads made from shells, used by some Native American peoples as currency or for ceremonial purposes
Usage: historical
Examples
- The museum displayed various wampums used in trade by northeastern tribes.
- These wampums were carefully crafted from white and purple shells.
- The treaty was sealed with an exchange of wampums between the chiefs.
- Archaeologists found ancient wampums at the excavation site.
- The intricate patterns in these wampums told important tribal stories.
- Colonial traders often used wampums as currency with Native Americans.