Quipu

//ˈki.pu// noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A recording device, used by the Incas, consisting of intricate knotted cords.

    "Among a cache of 21 quipus recovered from a house, probably that of the chief quipu keeper, seven are clearly related in a three-tier accounting hierarchy."

  2. 2
    calculator consisting of a cord with attached cords; used by ancient Peruvians for calculating and keeping records wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
adding machinecalculator

Example

More examples

"Among a cache of 21 quipus recovered from a house, probably that of the chief quipu keeper, seven are clearly related in a three-tier accounting hierarchy."

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish quipu, from Quechua khipu (“knot”).

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.