palaver
Meaning
-
- A village council meeting.
- Talk, especially unnecessary talk; chatter.
- Mentally-draining activity, either physical or fuss.
- A meeting at which there is much talk; a debate; a moot.
- (informal) Disagreement.
- Talk intended to deceive.
Synonyms
empty talk
tittle tattle
babblement
rattle away
chin wagging
rattle on
prittle prattle
idle chat
negociate
Pronounced as (IPA)
/pəˈlɑː.və(ɹ)/
Etymology
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.
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Notes