pourparler

American  

[poor-par-ley, poor-pahr-ley] / pur parˈleɪ, ˌpʊər pɑrˈleɪ /

noun

French.

plural

pourparlers

1. an informal preliminary conference.

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pourparler British  

/ purparle, pʊəˈpɑːleɪ /

noun

1. an informal or preliminary conference

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Etymology

Origin of pourparler

Literally, “for talking”

Example Sentences

The official drummer could explain by the high and low alternations of his taps that a deed of violence just done was not a crime but a pourparler for the forming of a league.

From American Negro Slavery A Survey of the Supply, Employment and Control of Negro Labor as Determined by the Plantation Regime by Phillips, Ulrich Bonnell

Further, Mr. Stent accompanied Cecil Rhodes to the Mattopo hills, where the late Colossus went unarmed to hold with the Matabele chiefs the pourparler which brought about the peace of Southern Rhodesia.

From Native Life in South Africa by Plaatje, Sol (Solomon Tshekisho)

Whatever may be the nature of the pourparler, it must be based on the conviction that neither legal contention nor diplomatic dispute will ever settle the vexed question.

From Japan and the California Problem by Iyenaga, Toyokichi

The last-named group on the other hand, produced much pourparler, for Jay maintained that these Negroes were "clearly comprehended by the terms of the treaty."

From The Journal of Negro History, Volume 5, 1920 by Various

He goes to have a pourparler with the Pope.

From The Missourian by Lyle, Eugene P. (Eugene Percy)