seawan

American  

[see-wuhn] / ˈsi wən /

Or seawant,

noun

1. wampum.

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seawan British  

/ ˈsiːwən /

noun

1. shell beads, usually unstrung, used by certain North American Indians as money; wampum

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Etymology

Origin of seawan

First recorded in 1620–30, from New York Dutch sewan, zeewan, zeewant, etc., from Munsee Delaware *sé·wan “unstrung wampum,” literally, “that which is in a scattered state,” derivative of se·(w)- “scatter(ed)”

Example Sentences

"Seawan," he said coldly, correcting me and using the softer Siwanois term.

From Project Gutenberg

Little Oneida goddess in your bridal dress, the Seven Dancers are laughing at me from your eyes; and the Day-Sun and the Night-Sun hang from your sacred girdle, making it flash like silvery showers of seawan.

From Project Gutenberg

They sold each salmon for one florin or two hands of seawan.

From Project Gutenberg

They told us that the Frenchmen gave six hands of seawan for one beaver, and all sorts of things more.

From Project Gutenberg

After we sat for a considerable time, an old man came to us, and translated it to us in the other language, and told us that we did not answer yet whether they were to have four hands of seawan or not for their skins.

From Project Gutenberg