roanoke
Roanoke (noun) means Small white beads made from shells, once used as ornaments and as a form of currency among Native American peoples of colonial-era Virginia. Example: “Traders exchanged strings of roanoke for furs and tobacco.”
How to use roanoke
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA historical term for small polished shell beads used as decoration and as an early form of currency.
You'll mostly meet this word in history writing about colonial Virginia, not in everyday speech.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Traders exchanged strings of _____ for furs and tobacco.
Etymology
Borrowed from the Powhatan word rawrenock, meaning "things rubbed smooth by hand" — describing how the shell beads were polished into shape.
Rhymes for roanoke
See all rhymes for roanoke →Frequently asked questions
What does “roanoke” mean?
The word “roanoke” means small white beads made from shells, once used as ornaments and as a form of currency among Native American peoples of colonial-era Virginia. In plain terms, a historical term for small polished shell beads used as decoration and as an early form of currency.
How do you pronounce “roanoke”?
“Roanoke” is pronounced ROH-uh-nohk (/ˈɹoʊənoʊk/ in IPA).
How do you use “roanoke” in a sentence?
Here is “roanoke” used in a sentence: “Traders exchanged strings of roanoke for furs and tobacco.”
What part of speech is “roanoke”?
“Roanoke” is a noun.
Where does the word “roanoke” come from?
The word “roanoke” comes from Polish. Borrowed from the Powhatan word rawrenock, meaning "things rubbed smooth by hand" — describing how the shell beads were polished into shape.
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