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Today it means

wampum

traditional shell beads used by Native Americans as currency, ornamentation, or ceremony

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Where does the word "wampum" come from? It comes from Massachusett wampumpeag, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

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Where does the word "wampum" come from? It comes from Massachusett wampumpeag, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Wampum’s story begins in Massachusett: wampumpeag meant “strings of shell beads.” Literally "white strings [of shell beads]". It reached English by 1600s as wampum. Shortened by English colonists in New England. Today, wampum means traditional shell beads used by Native Americans as currency, ornamentation, or ceremony.

  1. Stage 1 · Massachusett · pre-1600s wampumpeag "strings of shell beads", literally "white strings [of shell beads]".
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s wampum "shell beads used as currency or ornament", shortened by English colonists in New England.

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