powwow
[ pou-wou ]
/ ˈpaʊˌwaʊ /
noun
verb (used without object)
to hold a powwow.
Informal. to confer.
RELATED WORDS
confab, parley, conference, huddle, council, meeting, consultation, confabulation, palaver, talk, confer, treat, consult, meet, advise, confabulate, get-together
Nearby words
- powers, hiram,
- powfagged,
- powhatan,
- powhatan confederacy,
- powhiri,
- powys,
- powys, john cowper,
- pox,
- poxviridae,
- poxvirus
Origin of powwow
1615–25, Americanism; < Narragansett (E spelling) powwaw Indian priest (and the identical word in Massachusett) < Proto-Algonquian *pawe·wa he dreams (used as a derived agent noun meaning “he who dreams”, i.e., one who derives his power from visions)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for powwow
powwow
/ (ˈpaʊˌwaʊ) /
noun
a talk, conference, or meeting
a magical ceremony of certain North American Indians, usually accompanied by feasting and dancing
(among certain North American Indians) a medicine man
a meeting of or negotiation with North American Indians
verb
(intr) to hold a powwow
Word Origin for powwow
C17: from Algonquian; related to Natick pauwau one who practises magic, Narraganset powwaw
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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powwow
1620s, "priest, sorcerer," from a southern New England Algonquian language (probably Narragansett) powwaw "shaman, medicine man, Indian priest," from a verb meaning "to use divination, to dream," from Proto-Algonquian *pawe:wa "he dreams, one who dreams." Meaning "magical ceremony among North American Indians" is recorded from 1660s. Sense of "council, conference, meeting" is first recorded 1812. Verb sense of "to confer, discuss" is attested from 1780.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper