powwow
pronunciation
How to pronounce powwow in British English:
UK [ˈpaʊwaʊ]
How to pronounce powwow in American English:
US [ˈpaʊˌwaʊ]
-
- Noun:
- a quick private conference
-
- Verb:
- hold a powwow, talk, conference or meeting
Word Origin
- powwow (n.)
- 1620s, "priest, sorcerer," from a southern New England Algonquian language (probably Narragansett) powwaw "shaman, medicine man, Indian priest," from a verb meaning "to use divination, to dream," from Proto-Algonquian *pawe:wa "he dreams, one who dreams." Meaning "magical ceremony among North American Indians" is recorded from 1660s. Sense of "council, conference, meeting" is first recorded 1812. Verb sense of "to confer, discuss" is attested from 1780.