quipu
noun
qui·pu ˈkē-(ˌ)pü 
: a device made of a main cord with smaller varicolored cords attached and knotted and used by the ancient Peruvians (as for calculating)
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web In January the Peruvian Ministry of Culture gave the quipu national heritage status, hailing it as an ingenious legacy of the indigenous culture. 
National Geographic, 19 May 2020 Here are some notable ways the population was counted before the first U.S. census in 1790:Incan Quipu: Instead of counting with tally marks, Incans lined up quipu or threads (made out of llama or alpaca, according to some sources). Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 22 June 2017
National Geographic, 19 May 2020 Here are some notable ways the population was counted before the first U.S. census in 1790:Incan Quipu: Instead of counting with tally marks, Incans lined up quipu or threads (made out of llama or alpaca, according to some sources). Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 22 June 2017 Word History
Etymology
Spanish quipo, from Quechua khipu
First Known Use
1704, in the meaning defined above