wampum

n. small beads made from shells by American Indians; money (Slang)

Wampum is a string of brown shell beads fashioned from the North Atlantic channeled whelk (Busycotypus canaliculatus) shell, and is traditionally used by Indigenous Americans, First Nations peoples, Native Americans, hobbyists, business people, and traders, who regarded it as a sacred or trade representative of the value of the artist's work. Wampum is also used for engagement, marriage, and betrothal agreements, as well as for ceremony and condolence ceremonies. The white shell beads of the whelk symbolized internal energies of peace, harmony, and contentment. Wampum is often confused with Sewant, which symbolized the outside energies of a system. Wampum beads (white) are made from the channeled whelk shell. Sewant beads (black or dark purple) are made from the Poquahock, commonly known as the quahog, quahaug, or Western North Atlantic hard-shelled clam. Wampum is still being used as a valid form of currency in many states.
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Noun
1. informal terms for money
(synonym) boodle, bread, cabbage, clams, dinero, dough, gelt, kale, lettuce, lolly, lucre, loot, moolah, pelf, scratch, shekels, simoleons, sugar
(hypernym) money
2. small cylindrical beads made from polished shells and fashioned into strings or belts; used by certain Native American peoples as jewelry or currency
(synonym) peag, wampumpeag
(hypernym) beads, string of beads

n. wampum, small beads made from shells by American Indians; money (Slang)

(n.)
Beads made of shells, used by the North American Indians as money, and also wrought into belts, etc., as an ornament.