quipu

quipu
/kee"pooh, kwip"ooh/, n.
a device consisting of a cord with knotted strings of various colors attached, used by the ancient Peruvians for recording events, keeping accounts, etc.
[1695-1705; < Sp < Quechua khipu]

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▪ Incan counting tool
also spelled  Quipo,  

      an Incan accounting apparatus consisting of a long rope from which hung 48 secondary cords and various tertiary cords attached to the secondary ones. Knots were made in the cords to represent units, tens, and hundreds; and, in imperial accounting, the cords were differently coloured to designate the different concerns of government—such as tribute, lands, economic productivity, ceremonies, and matters relating to war and peace. The quipus were created and maintained as historical records and were kept not only by high officials at the capital of Cuzco—judges, commanders, and important heads of extended families—but also by regional commanders and village headmen.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • quipu — quipu …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • Quipu — or khipu (sometimes called talking knots) were recording devices used in the Inca Empire and its predecessor societies in the Andean region. A quipu usually consisted of colored spun and plied thread or strings from llama or alpaca hair. It also… …   Wikipedia

  • Quipu — der Inkas vom Larco Museum Quipu (span.) oder Khipu (Quechua: „Knoten“) ist der Name der einzigartigen, im dezimalen Stellenwertsystem aufgebauten Knot …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Quipú — Quipu Quipu der Inkas vom Larco Museum Quipu (span.) oder Khipu (Quechua: „Knoten“) ist der Name der einzigartigen, im Dezimalsystem aufgebauten K …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • quipu — QUÍPU s.n. Sistem de scriere incaş, care folosea sfori de diverse culori şi noduri; instrumentul, alcătuit din sfori şi noduri, folosit de incaşi pentru acest sistem de scriere. [pr.: chí ] – Din sp. quipu. Trimis de cata, 24.02.2002. Sursa: DEX… …   Dicționar Român

  • Quipu — (spr. kippu), die Knotenschrift, deren sich die Peruaner und auch die Araukaner vor der Eroberung ihrer Reiche durch die Spanier bedienten, um Mandate in allen Teilen ihres Reiches zu verbreiten, Rechnungen niederzulegen und sogar um damit die… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Quipu — Qui pu, n.; pl. {Quipus}. [Peruv. quipu a knot.] A contrivance employed by the ancient Peruvians, Mexicans, etc., as a substitute for writing and figures, consisting of a main cord, from which hung at certain distances smaller cords of various… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • quipu — 1704, from Quechua quipu knot …   Etymology dictionary

  • quipu — (Del quechua quipu, nudo). m. Cada uno de los ramales de cuerdas anudados, con diversos nudos y varios colores, con que los indios del Perú suplían la falta de escritura y daban razón, así de las historias y noticias, como de las cuentas en que… …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • quipu — [kē′po͞o, kwip′o͞o] n. [AmSp quipo < Quechua khípu (also sp. quipu), knot] a device consisting of an arrangement of cords variously colored and knotted, used by the ancient Peruvians to keep accounts, record events, etc …   English World dictionary

  • quipu — sustantivo masculino 1. (preferentemente en plural) Origen: Perú. Especie de ábaco de cuerda y nudos que usaban los indígenas del Perú para sus cálculos …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

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