Definition
Prolonged and idle discussion or negotiation, often involving unnecessary talk or flattery; can also refer to a fuss or commotion over something trivial.
Example Usage
After much palaver about the project timeline, the team finally agreed on a deadline.
Origin
From Portuguese 'palavra' (word) and Dutch 'praatje' (talk), entering English through contact with Portuguese traders in Africa.
Fun Fact
The term originally referred to trading negotiations between European merchants and African chiefs, and carried colonial-era baggage before evolving into a neutral descriptor of wordy discussion.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
Related Terms
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See “Palaver” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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