palaver

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A village council meeting.

   • Here we remained four days, on account of a palaver which was held on the following occasion.
   • That night the village warriors held a big palaver to celebrate their victories, and to choose a new chief.
2. 2

   Talk, especially unnecessary talk

   Talk, especially unnecessary talk; chatter.

   • Frances pulled his hair heartily, and then went and seated herself on her husband’s knee, and there they were, like two babies, kissing and talking nonsense by the hour—foolish palaver that we should be ashamed of.
   • Knowing full well the right time and the wrong time for a palaver of regret and disavowal, this battalion struggled in the desperation of despair.
3. 3

   Mentally draining activity, either physical or fuss.

   • What a palaver!
   • Not for the first time, he reflected that it was not so much the speeches that strained the nerves as the palaver that went with them.
   • What's the good of going through all this palaver of giving very small sums to very obscure charities?
4. ›+ 5 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      A meeting at which there is much talk

      A meeting at which there is much talk; a debate; a moot.

      • this country and epoch of parliaments and eloquent palavers
   2. 5

      Disagreement.

      • I have no palaver with him.
   3. 6

      Talk intended to deceive.

   4. 7

      To discuss with much talk.

      • “Come, come, Captain Bildad; stop palavering,—away!” and with that, Peleg hurried him over the side, and both dropt into the boat.
      • “That,” he rejoined, “is a way we Americans have. We cannot stop to palaver. What would become of our manifest destiny?”
   5. 8

      To flatter.

      • Dodd never spoke to his officers like a ruffian, nor yet palavered them.

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