DCHP-1 Online
war belt Hist. 
among Indians, a wampum belt symbolizing a declaration of war.
See also: peace belt wampum belt
- 1793 (1937) Two Ibawa Indians came down express from Detroit to Niagara, carrying with them a war belt, and . . . it was the intention . . . to wage war against the British. . . .
- 1926 The colour of the war-belt was purple or red. . . .
- 1965 In December [1775] the Iroquois delegation told Phillip Schuyler that Johnson after offering them a war belt and hatchet had invited them to "feast on a Bostonian and drink his blood--an ox being roasted for this purpose and a pipe of wine given to drink."
- 1793 (1937) Two Ibawa Indians came down express from Detroit to Niagara, carrying with them a war belt, and . . . it was the intention . . . to wage war against the British. . . .