POWWOW • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Powwow

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/pˈaʊwˌaʊ/ Listen

noun

Powwow n.

1.

A priest, or conjurer, among the North American Indians. "Be it sagamore, sachem, or powwow."

2.

Conjuration attended with great noise and confusion, and often with feasting, dancing, etc., performed by Indians for the cure of diseases, to procure success in hunting or in war, and for other purposes.

3.

Hence: Any assembly characterized by noise and confusion; a noisy frolic or gathering. (Archaic, formerly Colloq. U. S.)

4.

Any meeting assembled to discuss an issue; a parley. (Informal)

verb

Powwow v. i.

1.

To use conjuration, with noise and confusion, for the cure of disease, etc., as among the North American Indians.

2.

Hence: To hold a noisy, disorderly meeting. (Archaic, formerly Colloq. U. S.)

3.

To hold a meeting to discuss an issue. (Informal)

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Etymology of 'Powwow'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Powwow" Quotes from Famous Books

... Years afterwards, when Stuyvesant ascended the river, his doughty retainers were horrified, on landing below the Dans-Kamer, to discover hundreds of painted figures frisking there in the fire-light. A few surmised that they were but a new generation of savages holding a powwow, but most of the sailors fancied that the assemblage was demoniac, and that the figures were spirits of bad Indians repeating a scalp-dance and revelling in the mysterious fire-water that they had brought down from the river source in jars and skins. The spot was at least ...

— Myths And Legends Of Our Own Land, Complete • Charles M. Skinner

... of preparation for Peggy and Polly, for the outcome of that fireside powwow had been a decision in favor of Columbia Heights School for Polly also, for that winter at least, and when the fifteenth dawned bright and frosty, Mrs. Harold accompanied the girls to Washington, Captain Stewart's leave having meantime expired. But he had gone ...

— Peggy Stewart at School • Gabrielle E. Jackson

... Daphne? Please say yes. I haven't joined anything in ages," Kit begged. "I don't care whether it's a library club or an Indian powwow. I am just dying to be in something out here, where I'll meet every one and get acquainted. If you don't need me this morning——" She hesitated, but some of her enthusiasm had caught Miss Daphne, and she immediately succumbed to the whim of ...

— Kit of Greenacre Farm • Izola Forrester

... iron pokers glowing red-hot. The sight of this gave the final blow to any hope that might have remained of History's conducting himself with dignity. When he and Tug were led in, there was such an hilarious celebration over the two Lakerim captives as the Indian powwow indulged in on seeing a scouting party bring in Daniel Boone ...

— The Dozen from Lakerim • Rupert Hughes

... warming up, "when I think of the Indian powwow we had in this very spot six months ago,—and what a mean bloat I was, going to the stub-tail dogs with my hat over my eyes,—and what a hard lot we were all round, livin' on nothing but argee whiskey, and rampin' off on benders, instead of makin' good iron,—and ...

— The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 09, No. 51, January, 1862 • Various

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