In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.
PALAVER
palaver, hot air, empty words, empty talk, rhetoric
(noun) loud and confused and empty talk; “mere rhetoric”
blandishment, cajolery, palaver
(noun) flattery intended to persuade
palaver
(verb) have a lengthy discussion, usually between people of different backgrounds
wheedle, cajole, palaver, blarney, coax, sweet-talk, inveigle
(verb) influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering; “He palavered her into going along”
chatter, piffle, palaver, prate, tittle-tattle, twaddle, clack, maunder, prattle, blab, gibber, tattle, blabber, gabble
(verb) speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
palaver (countable and uncountable, plural palavers)
(Africa) A village council meeting.
Talk, especially unnecessary talk; chatter.
Talk intended to deceive.
Fuss.
A meeting at which there is much talk; a debate; a moot.
(informal) Disagreement.
Synonyms
• (unnecessary talk): hot air, janglery; See also chatter
• (fuss): ado, bother; See also commotion
Verb
palaver (third-person singular simple present palavers, present participle palavering, simple past and past participle palavered)
To discuss with much talk.
To flatter.
Synonyms
• jabber, rabbit, yak; See also prattle
Source: Wiktionary
Pa*la"ver, n. Etym: [Sp. palabra, or Pg. palavra, fr. L. parabola a comparison, a parable, LL., a word. See Parable.]
1. Talk; conversation; esp., idle or beguiling talk; talk intended to deceive; flattery.
2. In Africa, a parley with the natives; a talk; hence, a public conference and deliberation; a debate. This epoch of parliaments and eloquent palavers. Carlyle.
Pa*la"ver, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Palavered; p. pr. & vb. n. Palavering.]
Definition: To make palaver with, or to; to used palaver;to talk idly or deceitfully; to employ flattery; to cajole; as, to palaver artfully. Palavering the little language for her benefit. C. Bront
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
18 April 2025
GROIN
(noun) the crease at the junction of the inner part of the thigh with the trunk together with the adjacent region and often including the external genitals
Coffee Trivia
