wampumpeag

Meaning

1. Synonym of wampum (“small cylindrical beads made from polished shells (especially white ones) which have been strung together, formerly used by Native American peoples of eastern North America for various purposes including as jewellery and money, and for record-keeping”).

Etymology / origin

Borrowed from Massachusett wampompeage (“string of white beads used as money”), from wamp, wap, wompi (“white”) + *umpe (“string”) + -ag (plural suffix). Compare peag (“string of white beads used as money”), also a clipping of wampumpeag. Cognates Penobscot wʌ̃pʌ̃pəyak (singular wʌ̃pʌ̃pi)

Sources

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