seawan Meaning, Definition & Usage

Sea"wan, Sea"want noun (Also<
  • Seawan
  • Seawant
)
Definitions
  1. The name used by the Algonquin Indians for the shell beads which passed among the Indians as money. Seawan was of two kinds; wampum, white, and suckanhock, black or purple, -- the former having half the value of the latter. Many writers, however, use the terms seawan and wampum indiscriminately. Bartlett.

Webster 1913