Wampom
/ˈwɑːm.pəm/noun
A variant spelling of wampum, referring to beads made from shell and historically used by Indigenous peoples of northeastern North America for ornament, exchange, and diplomacy.
Did you know?Wampom is a variant of wampum, whose fuller Massachusett form, wampumpeag, referred to strings or belts of white shell beads used in diplomacy and record-keeping.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Algonquian period
Proto-Algonquian
*wa·p-
“A reconstructed root associated with whiteness or brightness”
17th Century
Massachusett
wampumpeag
“White shell beads, especially beads made into strings or belts”
17th Century
English
wampum
“Shell beads used by Indigenous peoples of the northeastern woodlands”
17th–18th Century
English
wampom
“A variant spelling of wampum”
Modern English
English
wampom
“An established variant form referring to wampum beads or beadwork”
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