seawan

or sea·want, se·wan

[ see-wuhn ]

noun

1. wampum ( def 1 ).

seawan

/ ˈsiːwən /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of seawan¹

First recorded in 1620–30, Americanism; 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)”

Word History and Origins

Origin of seawan¹

C18: from Narraganset seawohn loose

Example Sentences

Indian money. wampum, seawan, suckanhock, colcol, peag, hiagua, kopkops.

From Project Gutenberg

Mollusks, Mollusca, Testacea. shell money. wampum, hiagua, peag, colcol, kopkops, seawan, suckanhock. shelter, n. protection, screen, cover, shield, defense, covert, security, lee; asylum, refuge, retreat, haven, sanctuary. shelter, v. shield, protect, defend, screen, ensconce, cover.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

Smiling and bashful she stood there in her clinging skirt and wampum-broidered vest, her slender, rounded limbs moulded into soft knee-moccasins of fawn-skin, and the Virgin's Girdle knotted across her thighs in silver-tasselled seawan.

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