palaver

[ puh-lav-er, ‐lah-ver ]

/ pəˈlæv ər, ‐ˈlɑ vər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR palaver ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a conference or discussion.

a long parley, especially one between primitive natives and European traders, explorers, colonial officials, etc.

profuse and idle talk; chatter.

persuasive talk; flattery; cajolery.

verb (used without object), pa·lav·ered, pa·lav·er·ing.

to talk profusely and idly.

to parley or confer.

verb (used with object), pa·lav·ered, pa·lav·er·ing.

to cajole or persuade.

Nearby words

Origin of palaver

1720–30; < Portuguese palavra word, speech, talk < Late Latin parabola parable

Related formspa·lav·er·er, pa·lav·er·ist, nounpa·lav·er·ment, nounpa·lav·er·ous, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for palaver

He seemed at first much pleased of the situation, but after examining the captives closely he called a palaver.
The Story Behind The World’s Greatest Headline|Brandy Zadrozny|January 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With North Korea, the palaver is mostly about hoping and waiting.
What the U.S. Government Knows About North Korea's New Ruler|Leslie H. Gelb|December 20, 2011|DAILY BEAST
You have besides a great talent for cant and palaver, and for laughing at one's beard.
The Adventures of Hajji Baba of Ispahan|James Morier
And don't you make no palaver of it, to come stealing of my mushrooms.'
Dariel|R. D. Blackmore

You will only get the worst of the palaver and show your ignorance before the wise Nzambi.
The Curious Book of Birds|Abbie Farwell Brown
"Stop your palaver and tell us all about it," observed Jim Pizey.
Grif|B. L. (Benjamin Leopold) Farjeon
There's been a palaver, and now there's an armistice, while the bosses discuss terms.
Under the Star-Spangled Banner|F. S. Brereton

British Dictionary definitions for palaver

palaver

/ (pəˈlɑːvə) /

noun

tedious or time-consuming business, esp when of a formal natureall the palaver of filling in forms

loud and confused talk and activity; hubbub

(often used humorously) a conference

rare talk intended to flatter or persuade

Western African

an argument
trouble arising from an argument

verb

(intr) (often used humorously) to have a conference

(intr) to talk loudly and confusedly

(tr) to flatter or cajole

Word Origin for palaver

C18: from Portuguese palavra talk, from Latin parabola parable

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for palaver

palaver

1733 (implied in palavering), "talk, conference, discussion," sailors' slang, from Portuguese palavra "word, speech, talk," traders' term for "negotiating with the natives" in West Africa, metathesis of Late Latin parabola "speech, discourse," from Latin parabola "comparison" (see parable). Meaning "idle talk" first recorded 1748. The verb is 1733, from the noun. Related: Palavering.

palaver

noun

verb (used without object), pa·lav·ered, pa·lav·er·ing.

verb (used with object), pa·lav·ered, pa·lav·er·ing.

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of palaver

Examples from the Web for palaver

palaver

noun

verb

Word Origin for palaver

palaver