palavern.
/pəˈlɑːvə/, U.S. /pəˈlævər/, /pəˈlɑvər/, West African English /paˈlava/ I. Senses relating to action or talk of a marked character.
1.
a. In West Africa: a dispute, quarrel, or misunderstanding; a matter for arbitration.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > contention or strife > [noun] > an act or instance of
flitec1000
strifea1225
wara1300
pulla1400
lakec1420
contenta1450
stour?c1450
contentiona1500
pingle1543
agony1555
feudc1565
combat1567
skirmish1576
grapple1604
counter-scuffle1628
scuffle1641
agon1649
tug1660
tug of war1677
risse1684
struggle1692
palaver1707
hash1789
warsle1792
scrabble1794
set-to1794
go1823
bucklea1849
wrestle1850
tussle1857
head-to-head1884
scrum1905
battleground1931
shoot-out1953
mud-wrestle1986
1707 in R. A. Fisher Extracts from Rec. Afr. Companies (1924) 34 Has had a pallaver w[ith] y[e] King of Barra who stopt y[e] Water & boats coming to ye island ye Pallaver cost 100 bars.
1714 in R. A. Fisher Extracts from Rec. Afr. Companies (1924) 41 Ye Ashantee Cabbr had sent him word that he had made up all pallavers with ye Cufferoes.
1744 W. Smith's New Voy. Guinea 85 We learnt, That a Pallaver, on the Departure of Mr. Cummerbus, soon arose between the King and his Subjects.
1789 Rep. Lords Comm. Council: Evid. i. 5 in Parl. Papers 1731–1800 (Brit. Libr.) LXXXIV If any Dispute or Palavers arose between Two or more Persons, they called a Council of the head Men, where the Persons were tried.
1793 A. Dalzel Hist. Dahomy ii. xi. 208 Palaver... [Note] From the Portuguese word palabra, a word; but used for dispute or lawsuit.
1819 T. E. Bowdich Mission to Ashantee i. vi. 123 It would be a coup d'éclat much more important and agreeable, if he could settle the Warsaw palaver as well.
1897 M. Kingsley Trav. W. Afr. 452 Human sacrifice is very rare in Congo Français, the killing of people being nine times in ten a witchcraft palaver.
1986 B. K. Laing Search Sweet Country 210 If you think this man sittin here is going to spoil my plans, then we have a big palaver on our hands.
b. colloquial (chiefly West African). Trouble, difficulty; bother, ‘hassle’. Frequently as the second element in compounds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [noun] > difficulty, trouble, or bother
clondc1275
businessa1387
adoc1400
importunityc1475
fatigue1669
bother1761
botherment1821
picnic1896
palaver1899
hassle1959
1899 C. J. C. Hyne Further Adventures Capt. Kettle ii. 31 He wouldn't stop for fighting-palaver. He'd be off for bush, one-time.
1927 R. A. Freeman Certain Dr. Thorndyke i. x. 160 An interfering though well-meaning old chief stopped me and said I mustn't go any farther because of war-palaver.
1954 G. Durrell Bafut Beagles iii. 60 Sometimes I get palaver with the D.O., an' dat de tire me most of all.
1966 C. Ekwensi Lokotown 2 Woman palaver again? You always get woman palaver.
1991 Independent 28 Nov. 23/2 Your health can also stymie your stay: tropical ailments thrive, ‘tummy palaver’ is common.
c. colloquial (chiefly West African). With possessive adjective: the business or concern of the person specified. Cf. that's your problem at problem n. Phrases.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being upset or perturbed > [noun]
stirringc888
maleasea1300
uneasea1300
diseasec1330
perturbationa1382
unrestfulnessc1384
disturbancea1387
unroc1390
distroublancea1400
perturbancec1425
unquietnessc1460
inquietation1461
conturbationc1470
unheart's-ease1470
distroubling1487
wanease15..
inquietness?1504
unrufe1508
sturt1513
pertroublancea1522
inquieting1527
unquieting1548
turmoiling1550
unquiet1551
agitation?1555
storm1569
wanrest1570
discountenance1577
float1579
disquiet1581
brangling1584
diseasefulnessa1586
restlessness1597
hurry1600
disturbancy1603
disquietment1606
disordera1616
laruma1616
uneasinessa1616
diseasementa1617
discomposture1622
discomposition1624
whirr1628
discomposednessa1631
discomposure1632
pother1638
incomposedness1653
inquietude1658
uneasefulness1661
toss1666
disquietednessa1680
intranquillitya1699
disquietude1709
bosom-broil1742
discomfort1779
rufflement1806
feeze1825
uncomfortableness1828
discomforture1832
astasia1839
dysphoria1842
purr1842
peacelessness1852
palaver1899
perturbment1901
heebie-jeebies1923
wahala1966
agita1979
the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > [noun] > business claiming attention > an occupation or affair
charec897
matter?c1225
journeya1352
affairc1390
notea1400
incident1485
concernment1495
actiona1500
business1524
concern1680
job1680
ploya1689
show1797
game1812
caper1839
pigeon dropping1850
shebang1869
hoodoo1876
racket1880
palaver1899
scene1964
1899 C. J. C. Hyne Further Adventures Capt. Kettle i. 21 It's not your palaver..or mine.
1953 P. Christophersen in Eng. Stud. 34 286 [West Africa] That's your palaver.
1997 Hispanic Outlook Higher Educ. (Nexis) 28 Apr. 34 ‘Abami, are you aware that what you are doing tantamounts to contempt of court and that I can send you to jail straightway for this?’ ‘That one na your palaver.’
2.
a. Talk intended to cajole, flatter, or wheedle.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > [noun] > with intention to flatter, deceive, etc.
gelec1200
good1563
palaver1733
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > [noun]
fickling?c1225
flattering?c1225
oluhningc1225
glozec1290
glozing1297
losengery1303
blandishingc1305
blandingc1315
flatteryc1320
glotheringc1325
soothinga1400
honey word?1406
faginga1425
flatrisec1440
smekingc1440
blandishc1475
blandiment?1510
glavering1545
coggingc1555
good1563
milksop1577
court holy water1583
glavery1583
blandishment1591
lipsalve1591
court holy bread1592
flatter1593
colloguing1596
sooth1597
daub?1602
blandation1605
lullaby1611
court-water1616
butter1618
blandiloquy1623
oil1645
court-element1649
courtshipment1649
courtship1655
blandiloquence1656
court-creama1657
daubing1656
fleecha1700
Spanish money1699
cajole1719
whiting1721
palaver1733
butter boat1747
flummery1749
treacle1771
Spanish coin1785
blancmange1790
blarney1796
soft corn1814
whillywha1816
carney1818
buttering up1819
soft soap1821
flam1825
slaver1825
soft solder1836
soothing syrup1839
soft-soaping1840
plámás1853
sawder1854
soap1854
salve1859
taffy1878
plámásing1897
flannel1927
smarm1937
flannelling1945
sweet talk1945
schmear1950
smarming1950
1733 J. Wetmore Eleutherius Enervatus 24 Some People will think you mean nothing but Palaver and Complement, when you say any thing favourable of our Church and Clergy.
1744 A. Hamilton Itinerarium (1907) 196 The peddler..sold some dear bargains to Mrs. Williams, and while he smoothed her up with palaver the Bostoner amused her with religious cant.
1789 J. O'Keeffe Highland Reel iii. ii. 60 Speak to Laird Donald I must, and use a good deal of palaver too.
1838 W. Howitt Rural Life Eng. I. iii. i. 249 The peculiar style of palaver..the unique flattery..with which the gipsy accosts you.
1887 T. Darlington Folk-speech S. Cheshire Falahver, unctuous politeness, exaggerated civility expressed in words. ‘Hey'd sich a lot o' falahver with him.’
1943 S. N. Behrman Pirate i. i. 23 Ines Pedro, my rising sun. Pedro, my evening star. Pedro None of your palaver. It's no good any more.
1994 Palm Beach (Florida) Post (Nexis) 12 July 1 d Listen, men! If you want real sweethearts..offer them faith instead of flattery..and partnership rather than pretty palaver!
b. Unnecessary, profuse, or idle talk; chatter.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > loquacity or talkativeness > [noun] > chatter
chirma800
clappingc1386
glavera1400
clapa1420
clackc1440
blabc1460
clattera1500
babble?a1525
babblery1532
pratery1533
clitter-clatter1535
by-talk?1551
prattle1555
prittle-prattle1556
twittle-twattle1565
cacquet1567
prate?1574
prattlement1579
babblement1595
gibble-gabble1600
gabble1602
twattlea1639
tolutiloquence1656
pratement1657
gaggle1668
leden1674
cackle1676
twit-twat1677
clash1685
chit-chat1710
chatter-chitter1711
chitter-chatter1712
palavering1732
hubble-bubble1735
palaver1748
rattle1748
gum1751
mag1778
gabber1780
gammon1781
gash1787
chattery1789
gabber1792
whitter-whatter1805
yabble1808
clacket1812
talky-talky1812
potter1818
yatter1827
blue streak1830
gabblement1831
psilologya1834
chin-music1834
patter1841
jaw1842
chatter1851
brabble1861
tongue-work1866
yacker1882
talkee1885
chelp1891
chattermag1895
whitter1897
burble1898
yap1907
clatfart1913
jive1928
logorrhœa1935
waffle1937
yackety-yacking1953
yack1958
yackety-yack1958
motormouth1976
1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random II. xli. 40 Damme! (said the outlaw) none of your palaver.
1764 S. Foote Mayor of Garret i. 23 Let's have none of your palaver here.
1835 J. Hogg Tales Wars Montrose I. 143 My heart was so full that I could not express myself, and it was probably as well that I did not make too great a palaver.
1847 E. Brontë Wuthering Heights I. iii. 42 There they were, like two babies, kissing and talking nonsense by the hour—foolish palaver that we should be ashamed of.
1885 R. Garnett in T. De Quincey Confessions Introd. 16 [De Quincey's] besetting sin is palaver—not however imbecile garrulity, but..the..expatiation of the princess whose lips dropped diamonds.
1922 C. Sandburg Compl. Poems (1970) 766 Now I am the parrot Who picks up palaver and repeats it.
a1940 L. MacNeice Poems (1941) 251 Prattle of water, palaver of starlings in a disused chimney.
1992 Nation (N.Y.) 12 Oct. 396/1 This is not mere palaver; Greece and Albania have moved troops to their borders with the former Yugoslavia.
c. U.S. Jargon.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > a language > register > [noun] > jargon
language1502
term of art1570
fustiana1593
jargoning1623
jargon1651
speciality1657
lingo1659
cant1684
linguaa1734
patois1790
slang1801
shibboleth1829
glim-glibber1844
argot1860
gammy1864
patter1875
stagese1876
vernacular1876
palaver1909
babble1930
buzzword1946
in word1964
rabbit1976
1909 ‘M. Twain’ Is Shakespeare Dead? vii. 74 I have been a quartz miner..and know all the palaver of that business.
1915 W. Cather Song of Lark i. xvi. 116 Thea did n't mind Ray's travel-lecture expressions. She dodged them, unconsciously, as she did her father's professional palaver.
1989 Word Ways Aug. 158 Harry Partridge believes that using Mario Pei as a reliable source of linguistic palaver is like quoting Shirley Maclaine to bolster a factual discussion.
3. colloquial. Chiefly British. A fuss, a commotion; a tedious or unnecessarily drawn-out process, a rigmarole.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > nervous excitement > [noun]
fever1340
motiona1398
quotidian?a1439
rufflea1535
commotion1581
fret1582
hurry1600
puddering1603
tumultuousnessa1617
trepidation1625
feverishness1638
boilingc1660
fermentationc1660
tumult1663
ferment1672
stickle1681
fuss1705
whirl1707
flurry1710
sweat1715
fluster1728
pucker1740
flutter1741
flustration1747
flutteration1753
tremor1753
swithera1768
twitteration1775
state1781
stew1806
scrow1808
tumultuating1815
flurrification1822
tew1825
purr1842
pirr1856
tête montée1859
go1866
faff1874
poultry flutter1876
palaver1878
thirl1879
razzle-dazzle1885
nervism1887
flurry-scurry1888
fikiness1889
foment1889
dither1891
swivet1892
flusterment1895
tither1896
overwroughtness1923
mania1925
stumer1932
tizzy1935
two and eight1938
snit1939
tizz1953
tiswas1960
wahala1966
the mind > emotion > suffering > feeling of weariness or tedium > [noun] > tedious or dull thing or activity
weariness1560
insipid1699
prose1743
bore1778
insipidity1822
ennui1849
yawn1889
palaver1920
bind1930
binder1930
corn1936
yawner1942
ho-hum1963
vicarage tea party1973
1878 Catholic World June 298/2 A thousand hermits have lived before Thoreau, and made no palaver over their social discomforts.
1892 J. Lumsden Sheep-head 199 Both he and the little boy perished. Much fuss and palaver at the time were made about it in the public prints.
1920 D. H. Lawrence Women in Love xii. 149 She hated the palaver Hermione made... She wanted anything but this fuss and business.
1947 H. W. Pryde First Bk. McFlannels v. 50 Inside ma collar's the only place fur the thing [sc. a table napkin]. Ach, it's nothin' but a palaver onywey.
1967 P. Bailey At the Jerusalem iii. 154 What a palaver there was before the coach left! Chattering away, rushing around.
1987 D. Adams Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency viii. 53 He went through a palaver similar to his previous one with his coat and hat.
II. Neutral senses.
4. A talk, a discussion, a dialogue; (spec. in early use) a conference between African tribespeople and traders or travellers. to make palaver: to parley.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > conversation > [noun] > conferring or consulting > a conference
councilc1275
parliamentc1325
consultationc1425
interview1514
view1520
talk1551
parle1552
colloquy1570
parley?a1580
enterparle1584
interparley1590
conference1592
enterparley1594
enterparlance1595
consult1600
antiparle1602
deliberation1632
consulto1659
conversation1703
palaver1735
consulta1768
korero1807
powwow1812
council-general1817
concilium1834
talk-in1966
think-in1966
1735 J. Atkins Voy. Guinea 103 He found it as the Fetish-Man had said, and a Palaaver being called, Peter recovered two Ounces of Gold Damage.
1762 T. Smollett Adventures Sir Launcelot Greaves I. i. 10 These two old piratical—had held a palaver with a lawyer..and by his assistance hove me out of my inheritance.
1771 O. Goldsmith in J. Cradock Zobeide (new ed.) Prol. sig. A4 No doubt they're all barbarians... I'll try to make palaver with them though.
1823 W. Scott St. Ronan's Well I. vi. 128 Next morning a solemn palaver (as the natives of Madagascar call their national convention,) was held.
1834 F. Marryat Jacob Faithful II. xii. 283 Now take the other sofa, and let us have a long palaver, as the Indians say.
1897 M. Kingsley Trav. W. Afr. 252 ‘How long does a palaver usually take to talk round here?’ I ask. ‘The last one I talked’, says Pagan, ‘took three weeks’.
1918 Coshocton (Ohio) Tribune 27 Feb. 2 During the palaver which followed they retailed the gossip of the villages through which they had passed...The palaver was long and tiresome as these native ceremonies always are to Europeans.
1975 J. L. Anderson Night of Silent Drums i. xi. 77 I come to make palaver.
1985 P. Abrahams View from Coyaba iv. i. 196 To have a big palaver and a feast at our villages: that would be good.
Compounds
C1. General attributive (chiefly in sense 4).
palaver-court n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > conversation > [noun] > conferring or consulting > place for
speech-housec1050
palaver-court1735
palaver-room1735
palaver house1789
baraza1863
cenacle1889
conference table1928
table1946
rap centre1969
1735 J. Atkins Voy. Guinea 53 So much as he can prove..at the Palaaver-Court, to have been defrauded of.
1860 Daily News 3 Oct. 2/4 A messenger..led us to the Palaver Court, where were assembled the King, his chiefs, and at least 10,000 men, armed.
1947 J. E. Lips Origin of Things xii. 348 The West African tribes of the forest region have a well-developed trial system before the palaver court which is composed of chiefs and elders
2000 J. M. Janzen & R. K. Janzen Do I still have Life? vi. 220/1 Although a popular palaver court (the gacaca), is described for Rwanda..it is mainly used for local civil crimes of property and fights between kin in the community.
palaver house n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > conversation > [noun] > conferring or consulting > place for
speech-housec1050
palaver-court1735
palaver-room1735
palaver house1789
baraza1863
cenacle1889
conference table1928
table1946
rap centre1969
1789 Abridgem. Minutes Evid. Comm. Slave-trade (House of Commons) 33 Free-men are tried by the Pynims,..who meet in the market-place, if there is no palaver-house (an open court of justice) and try them openly.
1803 T. Winterbottom Acct. Native Africans Sierra Leone I. v. 85 The Africans..hold their meetings in the búrree, or palaver house.
1861 P. B. Du Chaillu Explor. Equatorial Afr. vi. 50 The chief's house and the palaver-house are larger than the others.
1940 Jrnl. Royal Anthropol Soc. 70 182 One day the men were sitting in the palaver-house in Kapoko, near Dondi, when they heard the screams of an ox outside, greatly excited.
2003 Black Renaissance (Nexis) 31 Dec. 94 The high-and-mighty discourse of the elders floats out from the palaver house.
palaver-room n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > conversation > [noun] > conferring or consulting > place for
speech-housec1050
palaver-court1735
palaver-room1735
palaver house1789
baraza1863
cenacle1889
conference table1928
table1946
rap centre1969
1735 J. Atkins Voy. Guinea 63 Every Town hereabouts, had a Palaaver-Room.
1821 C. Hutton Tour Afr. III. xi. 193 It is necessary for the French merchant to have in his house a room called the palaver-room; that is an apartment in which there are neither goods nor furniture.
1922 85th Ann. Rep. Board Foreign Missions (Presbyterian Church U.S.A.) 91 There has been built a four-family, personal boys' house, 20x60; a dining room for the girls' school plant, 44x16; and a palaver room, 20x20.
2004 M. Adejunmobi Vernacular Palaver Introd. p. vii In the restored slave forts of the city of Cape Coast Ghana, tour guides will often describe the rooms where European and African traders met to discuss their business as the ‘Palaver Room’.
palaver tree n.
ΚΠ
1789 Abridgem. Minutes Evid. Comm. Slave-trade (House of Commons) 58 Has learnt from the natives, that, on trials for witchcrast, the principal people assemble under the palaver-tree.
1824 H. Kilham Jrnl. 30 June (1837) ix. 252 A large assembly of Mandingoes..collected under the great palaver-tree,..according to their Mahomedan profession.
1917 Chambers's Jrnl. Nov. 733/2 In the midst of the open space stood a great baobab—evidently the ‘palaver’ tree, beneath which the village council assembled.
1993 Lang. in Society 22 550 Elderly men, sitting under the palaver tree, are well situated for observing what is happening in the village.
C2.
palaver-man n. (in West Africa) a colonial official responsible for trade or negotiation with local people.
ΚΠ
1735 J. Atkins Voy. Guinea 74 Cabiceerd..demand a due of 20s. and the Palaaver-Man 10s.
1852 Harbinger July 210/1 The King sat at the head;..and, on the left, his palaver man, who holds the same office as an Attorney-General in England.
1972 S. Ottenberg in D. Fraser & H. M. Cole Afr. Art & Leadership vi. 110 The contradiction at Afikpo is expressed both in the fear and in the admiration found there for the ‘big palaver man’.
2008 M. T. Anderson Astonishing Life Octavian Nothing viii.405 A meeting of palaver-men, Christian New Lights, obeah priests, and new-made cunning-workers.
palaver sauce n. West African a spicy vegetable stew, often served (esp. in Sierra Leone) as an accompaniment to a bland staple vegetable such as yam or plantain.
ΚΠ
1824 H. Kilham Jrnl. 19 Feb. (1837) viii. 213 The prickly cotton-tree..leaves..are used for what the natives call palaver-sauce.
1905 R. A. Freeman Golden Pool v. 43 I unguardedly swallowed a spoonful of the orange-red ‘palaver sauce’ and was instantly reduced to tears and suffocation.
1997 Independent on Sunday (Nexis) 7 Sept. (Travel section) 3 Outside, I toyed with yam and palaver sauce in the Hut de Eric cafeteria, but it did little to remove a nasty aftertaste.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > loquacity or talkativeness > [noun] > talkative person
chaterestrea1250
jangler1303
babbler1366
blabbererc1375
jangleressc1386
talkerc1386
clatterer1388
cacklera1400
languager1436
carperc1440
mamblerc1450
praterc1500
jackdaw?1520
chewet1546
flibbertigibbet1549
clatterfart1552
patterer1552
piec1557
long tongue?1562
prattler1567
piet1574
twattler1577
brawler1581
nimble-chops1581
pratepie1582
roita1585
whittera1585
full-mouth1589
interprater1591
chatterer1592
pianet1594
bablatrice1595
parakeet1598
Bow-bell cockney1600
prattle-basket1602
bagpipe1603
worder1606
babliaminy1608
chougha1616
gabbler1624
blatterer1627
magpie1632
prate-apace1636
rattlea1637
clack1640
blateroon1647
overtalker1654
prate-roast1671
prattle-box1671
babelard1678
twattle-basket1688
mouth1699
tongue-pad1699
chatterista1704
rattler1709
morologist1727
chatterbox1774
palaverer1788
gabber1792
whitter-whatter1805
slangwhanger1807
nash-gab1816
pump1823
windbag1827
big mouth1834
gasbag1841
chattermag1844
tattle-monger1848
rattletrap1850
gasser1855
mouth almighty1864
clucker1869
talky-talky1869
gabster1870
loudmouth1870
tonguester1871
palaverista1873
mag1876
jawsmith1887
spieler1894
twitterer1895
yabbler1901
wordster1904
poofter1916
blatherer1920
ear-bender1922
burbler1923
woofer1934
ear-basher1944
motormouth1955
yacker1960
yammerer1978
jay-
a1873 D. Livingstone in W. G. Blaikie Personal Life D. Livingstone (1880) xiii. 268 See to what a length I have run. I have become palaverist.
palaverment n. an instance of excessive speech or verbiage.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > copiousness > [noun] > verbosity
multiplicationa1500
surplusage1534
verbosity1541
wordishness1657
wordiness1680
verboseness1695
verbiagea1721
verbage1742
palaverment1816
tootling1821
tootle1883
1816 T. Chalmers Let. in W. Hanna Mem. T. Chalmers (1851) II. iii. 66 Floundering its uncertain way through amongst the palaverments of law.
1845 R. S. Surtees Hillingdon Hall I. v. 42 People..would never have let him into their debt upon the faith of any of his own palaverments.
1914 E. A. Parry Law & Poor xv. 298 How any society of business men could palaver about it in any Palaverment for more than a week passes my comprehension.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
palaverv.
/pəˈlɑːvə/, U.S. /pəˈlævər/, /pəˈlɑvər/ 1. † b. transitive. To persuade (a person) to do something; to talk (a person) out of or into something; to win (a person) over with palaver. Obsolete.† c. intransitive. slang. To make a request to, to ask for. Obsolete. rare.
a. transitive. To praise over-highly, flatter; to cajole. Also (occasionally) intransitive: to wheedle, use flattery. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > flatter [verb (transitive)]
flatter?c1225
flackera1250
slickc1250
blandishc1305
blandc1315
glozec1330
beflatter1340
curryc1394
elkena1400
glaverc1400
anointa1425
glotherc1480
losenge1480
painta1513
to hold in halsc1560
soothe1580
smooth1584
smooth1591
soothe1601
pepper1654
palp1657
smoothify1694
butter1700
asperse1702
palaver1713
blarney1834
sawder1834
soft-soap1835
to cock up1838
soft-solder1838
soother1842
behoney1845
soap1853
beslaver1861
beslobber1868
smarm1902
sugar1923
sweetmouth1948
smooth-talk1950
1713 C. Shadwell Humours of Army i. 13 Cot knows, I have known it otherwise with your Countrymen, I have seen 'em crinch and palaver like a Whore to a Cully, Sir.
1765 E. Griffith Platonic Wife ii. iii. 31 She scorned the motion, though mademoiselle palavered her at the greatest rate, and said she was sure it must be very pretty.
1815 W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 149 To write silly odes, and palaver the great.
1863 C. Reade Hard Cash I. vii. 214 Dodd never spoke to his officers like a ruffian, nor yet palavered them.
1879 C. J. Kickham Knocknagow xiv. 90 Mammas manœuvred for him; papas palavered him; daughters exhausted all their arts and their patience to capture him.
1895 Longman's Mag. Oct. 637 Your father used to come leaning over it and talking about love, and palavering her.
1991 ‘W. Trevor’ Two Lives (1992) vi. 59 ‘She sucks up to the customers,’ Rose said. ‘Palavering all over them.’
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade (a person) [verb (transitive)] > persuade or prevail upon > persuade by talking
talk1706
palaver1767
converse1824
statement1931
1767 P. Gibbes Woman of Fashion II. 170 I won't be palaver'd out of my Prerogative.
1782 E. Blower George Bateman II. 115 They easily palavers themselves into ladies favours.
1798 J. Wolcot Tales of Hoy in Wks. (1812) IV. 418 No palavering me over with ‘my dear friend’.
1826 W. N. Glascock Naval Sketch-bk. II. 33 As I couldn't make play in my togs, or palaver any o' the passengers to lend me a fist, in course, I'd to strike to the party.
a1855 G. D. Pitt Jersey Girl (1856) i. i. 5 Sir John Moore didn't go gallanting of a night, in despite of garrison orders, as you do. So don't think I'm to be palavered over.
1872 J. W. De Forest Kate Beaumont xxi. 86 Major Lawson cherished hopes that he should be able to palaver General Johnson into some peaceful accommodation.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > request > make a request [verb (intransitive)] > to, of, or upon someone
clepec825
cryc1290
to pray (one) of a boon1393
to call on ——a1400
to seek on (also upon)a1400
to call upon ——c1405
sue1405
supplicate1417
peala1425
labour1442
to make suit1447–8
supply1489
suit1526
appeal1540
apply1554
incalla1572
invocate1582
beg1600
palaver1859
1859 J. C. Hotten Dict. Slang 71 ‘Palaver to the nibs for a shant of bivvy’, ask the master for a quart of beer.
2. intransitive. To hold a colloquy or conference; to parley or converse with.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > conversation > converse [verb (intransitive)] > confer, consult, or deliberate
roundc1275
to speak togetherc1275
to take counselc1290
counsel1297
treat1297
advisea1393
communea1393
to take deliberationc1405
common1416
to put (also bring, lay, set, etc.) their (also our, your) heads togetherc1425
janglec1440
bespeak1489
parliamenta1492
intercommonc1540
confer1545
parle1558
consult1565
imparl1572
break parle1594
handle1596
emparley1600
to confer notes1650
to compare notes1709
powwow1780
to get together1816
palaver1877
1738 F. Moore Trav. Inland Afr. 259 Large Trees..fit only for Shade, and the Negroes to palaver under and drink Palm-Wine.
1833 S. Smith Life & Writings Major Jack Downing lxviii. 228 He talked and palavered with the President till he finally brought him over.
1877 A. B. Edwards Thousand Miles up Nile x. 285 The worthy man, having spent all day in Assouan, visiting, palavering, bargaining, was now going home.
1898 Washington Post 10 Oct. 5/1 Why did the administration leave anything to be palavered over by the Paris Peace Commission?
1900 J. Conrad Lord Jim x. 133 I did not turn my head. I heard them palavering together.
1976 Time 20 Dec. 32 (caption) Author Graham Greene palavers under the palms with Omar Torrijos.
1992 Washington Times (Nexis) 4 Aug. f2 The ANC leader has recently returned from the United States, where he addressed the U.N. Security Council..and palavered with officials of the Bush administration.
3.
a. transitive. To speak (a language, esp. a foreign or strange one). Also (occasionally) intransitive.
ΚΠ
1749 J. Armstrong Muncher's & Guzler's Diary 7 That beautiful pybald black and white lingo, pallaber'd in its greatest purity by the Creolians of Jamaica.
1778 F. Burney Evelina I. xvi. 97 And palaver in French gibberish?
1852 C. Brontë Let. 25 Mar. in E. C. Gaskell Life Charlotte Brontë (1857) xxiv They do not even speak the Caledonian dialect; they palaver like a fine lady and gentleman.
1853 C. Brontë Villette I. xiii. 235 Telling her nursery tales and palavering the little language for her benefit.
1906 A. Adams Cattle Brands vii. 153 He was a stripling of a boy, but could palaver Spanish in a manner that would make a Mexican ashamed of his ancestry.
1986 B. K. Laing Search Sweet Country vii. 69 I think we palaver the same kind of English.
b. intransitive. To talk excessively; to talk in a foolish or incomprehensible manner; to jabber, chatter. Also (somewhat depreciative): to talk in a light and informal manner, to chat.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > loquacity or talkativeness > be talkative [verb (intransitive)] > talk excessively or chatter
chavel?c1225
babblea1250
chattera1250
clacka1250
janglea1300
ganglec1300
clapc1315
mumblec1350
blabberc1375
carp1377
tatterc1380
garre1382
rattlec1400
clatter1401
chimec1405
gabc1405
pattera1450
smattera1450
languetc1450
pratec1460
chat1483
jabber1499
clittera1529
cackle1530
prattle1532
blatter1533
blab1535
to run on pattens1546
tattle1547
prittle-prattlea1555
trattlea1555
tittle-tattle1556
quiddlea1566
brabble1570
clicket1570
twattle1573
gabble1574
prittle1583
to like to hear oneself speak, talk1597
to word it1612
deblaterate1623
tongue1624
twitter1630
snatter1647
oversay1656
whiffle1706
to gallop away1711
splutter1728
gob1770
gibble-gabble1775
palaver1781
to talk (etc.) nineteen to the dozen1785
gammon1789
witter1808
yabble1808
yaff1808
mag1810
chelp1820
tongue-pad1825
yatter1825
potter1826
chipper1829
jaw-jaw1831
buzz1832
to shoot off one's mouth1864
yawp1872
blate1878
chin1884
yap1888
spiel1894
to talk (also lie, swear, etc.) a blue streak1895
to run off at the mouth1908
chattermag1909
clatfart1913
to talk a streak1915
to run one's mouth1916
natter1942
ear-bash1944
rabbit1950
yack1950
yacker1961
to eat parrot head (also bottom)1965
yacket1969
to twat on1996
1781 C. Dibdin Poor Jack in Bull-finch (new ed.) 200 I heard our good chaplain palaver one day 'Bout souls, heaven, mercy and such.
1833 Atkinson's Casket Sept. 390/2 John palavered like a true son of Erin for the permission of just showing what John Bull had sent to the free country.
1875 J. W. De Forest Honest John Vane iii. 27 The practised orator palavered in a fluent, confident sing-song, as brassily penetrating as the tinkle of a bell, and as copious in repetitions.
1884 ‘M. Twain’ Adventures Huckleberry Finn vii Don't stand there palavering all day, but out with you and see if there's a fish on the lines for breakfast.
1915 W. Owen Let. ?Feb. (1967) 321 Too dreadfully busy to palaver in a letter.
1926 J. Devanny Butcher Shop ii. 23 Suddenly he thought that she might have gone to bed while he had been palavering there to himself.
1941 W. A. Percy Lanterns on Levee vi. 59 The fidgety folk of cities who palaver and intellectualize.
2002 Winston-Salem (N. Carolina) Jrnl. (Nexis) 2 Feb. e1 Far from being just a place where patricians palavered over the peas, the Victorian dining table was the point where political, social and economic history often converged.
4. intransitive. Originally and chiefly Scottish. To waste time on unnecessary trifles; to fuss; to dither.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > act or do vigorously [verb (intransitive)] > be brisk or active > bustle > fuss or make a fuss
nytelc1400
to make a matter1549
to keep a coil1568
squatter1593
fiddle-faddle1633
to play hell (with)1750
fuss1792
to play hell and Tommy1825
piggle1836
palavera1840
to make a time1844
to make a time1844
friggle1848
fussify1868
to make a production of (or out of)1941
a1840 R. Lochore Walter's Waddn' in J. G. Wilson Poets & Poetry of Scotl. (1876) I. 383/2 While some palaver'd wi' the bride, To get things to their liking.
1880 Jamieson's Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. (new ed.) Palaver, to behave in a fussy, ostentatious manner.
1915 T. W. Paterson Auld Saws 59 Palauver nane—mind that! Ye canna spare To skail yer time or chances as ye gang.
1987 Financial Times (Nexis) 10 Aug. 16 Congress..palavered over whether or not to ‘arm’ the Budget Deficit Reduction Act with powers to ordain automatic government spending cuts.
1999 A. Wheatle Brixton Rock 157 Palavering about in the dead of night nicking bits of wood wasn't something he fancied doing on his own.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1707
v.1713- maize plant
- maize poisoning
- maize porridge
- maize smut
- maize stalk
- maize starch
- maize straw
- maize thief
- maize thieves
- maize trough
- maize yellow
- maize-bird
- maize-coloured
- maize-cream
- maize-cutter
- maize-eater
- maize-fed
- maize-husking
- maize-whiskey
- maizebird
- maizecoloured
- maizecream
- maizecutter
- maizeeater
- maizefed