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Added 10 October 2026

palaver

/pəˈlɑː.və(ɹ)/ noun

Latin root: parabola Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about palaver at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A village council meeting.
Talk, especially unnecessary talk; chatter. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
Mentally draining activity, either physical or fuss.
What a palaver!

verb

To discuss with much talk.
To flatter.

Origin

Originally nautical slang, from Portuguese palavra (“word”), from Late Latin parabola (“parable, speech”). The term's use (especially in Africa) mimics the evolution of the word moot. As such, for sense development, see moot. Doublet of parable, parole, and parabola.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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