Definition
Beads made from shells, historically used by Native American tribes as currency, for trade, and in ceremonial contexts; also refers to money or wealth in general. The term carries significant cultural importance in understanding pre-colonial American economies and diplomatic exchanges.
Example Usage
The colonists traded European goods for wampum, which held both economic and spiritual value to the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
Origin
From Narragansett Algonquian wampumpeag, literally 'white beads.'
Fun Fact
Wampum belts were used to record treaties and agreements, functioning as written contracts in cultures with oral traditions.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
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