powwow
[pou-wou]
- a large gathering organized by North American Indians for socializing, dancing, singing, and celebrating their culture.
- a council or conference of or with North American Indians.
- (historically, among North American Indians) a ceremony accompanied by spiritual, religious, and ritual practices, along with dancing, performed for the cure of disease, success in a hunt, etc.
- (among North American Indians) a priest or shaman.
- Informal. any conference or meeting.
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- to hold a powwow.
- Informal. to confer.
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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. 2018
Examples from the Web for powwow
Contemporary Examples
So we organized and pressured Jeffrey Zucker, CEO of NBC Universal, for a powwow.
Historical Examples
You and Moncourt and I must have a powwow as soon as possible.
The Lightning Conductor Discovers AmericaC. N. (Charles Norris) Williamson and A. M. (Alice Muriel) Williamson
They won't understand it, and they'll get together and have a powwow.
A Texas RangerWilliam MacLeod Raine
When a powwow was to be held I always sent him to conduct it if I could not go myself.
The Arm-Chair at the InnF. Hopkinson Smith
Without stopping to call a powwow they summoned all hands to arms.
Strange Stories of the Great RiverAbbie Johnston Grosvenor
The fire was resurrected, and they sat down to have a powwow.
The Boy Scouts in the Maine WoodsHerbert Carter
powwow
- 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
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- (intr) to hold a powwow
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Word Origin
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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Word Origin and History for powwow
n.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper