PALAVER • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Palaver

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noun

Palaver n.

Talk; conversation; esp., idle or beguiling talk; talk intended to deceive; flattery.

In Africa, a parley with the natives; a talk; hence, a public conference and deliberation; a debate. "This epoch of parliaments and eloquent palavers."

verb

Palaver v. t. & v. i. (past & past part. palavered; pres. part. palavering) To make palaver with, or to; to used palaver; to talk idly or deceitfully; to employ flattery; to cajole; as, to palaver artfully. "Palavering the little language for her benefit."

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Etymology of 'Palaver'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Palaver" Quotes from Famous Books

... CHARLIE, my boy! I'd hang on by my eyelids; and so will the nobs, Despite Mounseer Roosso's palaver or rattletrap rubbish like BOB'S. As HUXLEY sez, Robbery's whitewashed by centries of toffdom, dear boy. Poor pilgarlicks whose forbears wos honest rich ...

— Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 98, February 22nd, 1890 • Various

... he turned piteously to his Prime Minister and invited him to lead the way. "I will follow your Highness," the minister discreetly replied, but the muscular Governor, Captain John P. Finley, ended the palaver by gently lifting the Sultan into the vehicle, whilst he himself immediately entered it, and the timorous Prime Minister and suite summoned up courage to follow. During the drive the Governor gave the word to the teamsters to detach the forecarriages on ...

— The Philippine Islands • John Foreman

... certain of it,' he smiled; 'and again I say, more emphatically than ever, that you're the very man I'm looking for. If you'll take that chair and pull up to the fire, I'll take the other and we'll have a bit of a palaver.' ...

— A Chinese Command - A Story of Adventure in Eastern Seas • Harry Collingwood

... informed him that the white man's country is great. He builds and resides in great houses; lives in great towns and cities, with great churches and palaver-houses (public and legislative halls); rides in great carriages; manufactures great and beautiful things; has great ships, which go to sea, to all parts of the world, instead of little canoes such as he has paddling up and down the ...

— Official Report of the Niger Valley Exploring Party • Martin Robinson Delany

... the first part, sir, where he walked into thieving. Don't like his telling 'em he loves 'em. 'Tisn't to be supposed a gentleman could really love such rubbish as that. Sounds like palaver. ...

— It Is Never Too Late to Mend • Charles Reade

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