Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WAM'PUM, n.

Shells or strings of shells, used by the American Indians as money or a medium of commerce. These strings of shells when united, form a broad belt, which is worn as an ornament or girdle. It is sometimes called wampumpeague, wompeague, or wampampeague, of which wampum seems to be a contraction. – Winthrop. Gookin.