wam ‧ pum /ˈwɒmpəm $ ˈwɑːm-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Origin: wampumpeag 'wampum' , from Narragansett , from wampan 'white' + api 'string' + -ag (plural suffix) ]
shells put into strings, belts etc, used in the past as money by Native Americans