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Definition of palaver - 3 dictionary results

pa⋅lav⋅er

  [puh-lav-er, ‑lah-ver] noun, verb, -ered, -er⋅ing.
Use palaver in a Sentence
–noun
1. a conference or discussion.
2. a long parley, esp. one between primitive natives and European traders, explorers, colonial officials, etc.
3. profuse and idle talk; chatter.
4. persuasive talk; flattery; cajolery.
–verb (used without object)
5. to talk profusely and idly.
6. to parley or confer.
–verb (used with object)
7. to cajole or persuade.
Origin:
1720–30; < Pg palavra word, speech, talk < LL parabola parable

Related forms:
pa⋅lav⋅er⋅er, pa⋅lav⋅er⋅ist, noun
pa⋅lav⋅er⋅ment, noun
pa⋅lav⋅er⋅ous, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To palaver
pa·lav·er   (pə-lāv'ər, -lä'vər)   
n.  

    1. Idle chatter.

    2. Talk intended to charm or beguile.

  2. Obsolete A parley between European explorers and representatives of local populations, especially in Africa.

v.   pa·lav·ered, pa·lav·er·ing, pa·lav·ers

v.   tr.
To flatter or cajole.
v.   intr.
To chatter idly.

[Portuguese palavra, speech, alteration of Late Latin parabola, speech, parable; see parable.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

palaver 
1733 (implied in palavering), "talk, conference, discussion," sailors' slang, from Port. palavra "word, speech, talk," traders' term for "negotiating with the natives" in W.Africa, metathesis of L.L. parabola "speech, discourse," from L. parabola "comparison." Meaning "idle talk" first recorded 1748.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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