Wordie: Palaver: Comments

Comment by plethora, about 1 month ago

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 08:09:42 +0000

Context.

Comment by drosselmeier, about 1 month ago

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 07:28:33 +0000

This word has a lot of definitions that don't have anything to do with each other. How would anyone know what you meant by it?

Comment by qroqqa, about 1 month ago

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:26:59 +0000

The word is from Portuguese palavra "word, speech" (thus cognate with 'parley', 'parable', 'parole', 'parliament' etc.) and probably comes into English via some African pidgin, as early uses all refer to discussions or disputes with or among Africans. Thence it passed in a fairly wide range of different senses relating to speech, dispute, or persuasion.

Comment by thtownse, about 1 month ago

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:39:51 +0000

This word was used by Rudyard Kipling to refer to a meeting or gathering. One can see the relationship with its 'current' meaning.

Comment by seanahan, about 1 year ago

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:42:27 +0000

Who paid in palaver and crumpled old dollars
Which we squirreled away
In our rat-trap hotel by the freeway
And we slept in Sundays

Comment by amydlite, about 1 year ago

Wed, 13 Dec 2006 19:06:00 +0000

This reminds me of the Gunslinger