potlatch

Meaning

Noun

1. (Canada, US, also, figuratively, uncountable, usually) A ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest in which gifts are bestowed upon guests and personal property is destroyed in a show of generosity and wealth.
2. (US, uncountable, usually) A communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share; a potluck.

Verb

1. (transitive) To give; especially, to give as a gift during a potlatch ceremony.
2. (intransitive) To carry out or take part in a potlatch ceremony.

Synonyms

cooking

feast

old-time feast

Translations

potlatch

potlatch

repas-partage

buffet canadien

auberge espagnole

festa americana

potlatch

eğlence

hediye

🎁

kış festivali

بوتلاتش - حفل كبير عند الهنود الحمر

parti

🥳

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈpɒtlætʃ/

Etymology

The noun is borrowed from Chinook Jargon potlatch, pátlač (“to give; gift; gift-giving ceremony, potlatch”), from Nootka Jargon pa'chatle, pa'chēētle, pah-chilt (“to give, give me”), from Nootka p̕ačiƛ (“to give a gift during a potlatch ceremony”).
Sense 1 of the verb (“to give; especially, to give a gift during a potlatch ceremony”) is borrowed from Chinook Jargon potlatch, pátlač (see above); sense 2 (“to carry out or take part in a potlatch ceremony”) is derived from the noun.