Potlatch
[pot-lach] /ˈpɒt lætʃ/
noun
1.
(among American Indians of the northern Pacific coast, especially the Kwakiutl) a ceremonial festival at which gifts are bestowed on the guests and property is destroyed by its owner in a show of wealth that the guests later attempt to surpass.
2.
Pacific Northwest. a party or celebration.
/ˈpɒtˌlætʃ/
noun
1.
(anthropol) a competitive ceremonial activity among certain North American Indians, esp the Kwakiutl, involving a lavish distribution of gifts and the destruction of property to emphasize the wealth and status of the chief or clan
2.
(US & Canadian, informal) a wild party or revel
n.
1845, “a gift,” from Chinook jargon pot-latch, “a gift,” from Nootka (Wakashan) patshatl “giving, gift.” Later (1865) in sense “ceremony in which gifts are exchanged.”
Read Also:
- Potlicker
[pot-lik-er] /ˈpɒtˌlɪk ər/ noun 1. Midland and Southern U.S. Eye Dialect. . 2. Dialect. a worthless or disgusting person or animal.
- Pot-liquor
noun 1. Midland and Southern U.S. the broth in which meat or vegetables, as salt pork or greens, have been cooked. noun 1. (mainly US) the broth in which meat, esp pork or bacon, and vegetables have been cooked noun The residue left in a pot after cooking: rubbed him with pot liquor to give […]
- Potline
[pot-lahyn] /ˈpɒtˌlaɪn/ noun, Metallurgy. 1. a row of electrolytic cells for reducing certain metals, as aluminum, from fused salts.
- Potluck
[pot-luhk, -luhk] /ˈpɒtˌlʌk, -ˈlʌk/ noun 1. food or a meal that happens to be available without special preparation or purchase: to take potluck with a friend. 2. Also called potluck supper, potluck dinner, potluck lunch. a meal, especially for a large group, to which participants bring various foods to be shared. 3. whatever is available […]
- Potman
/ˈpɒtmən/ noun (pl) -men 1. (mainly Brit) another word for potboy