noun
Meaning 1
A ritual conducted by a Native American shaman.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
powwow
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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/ˈpaʊ(ˌ)waʊ/
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US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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CMU ARPABET: P AW1 W AW2 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
noun
Meaning 2
A Native American shaman.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
A Native American council or meeting.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 4
A short, private conference.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 5
A large gathering during which Indigenous songs and dances are showcased for an audience, essentially a recital or concert. Often also doubles as a fundraiser, or can be held in conjunction with a non-indigenous fair or exhibition in order to attract a large crowd, as at the Calgary Stampede and K-Days.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Canada, US
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 6
A tradition of folk magic practiced by the Pennsylvania Dutch.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 7
To hold a meeting; to gather together in council.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 8
To conduct a ritual in which magic is used.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Qualifier: such as the Pennsylvania Dutch
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 9
To hold a private conference.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal, intransitive, offensive, often
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 10
(informal) a quick private conference
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: huddle
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: conference, group discussion
noun
Meaning 11
a council of or with Native Americans
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: council
verb
Meaning 12
hold a powwow, talk, conference or meeting
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: hash out, discuss, talk over
History
Etymology
From an Eastern Algonquian language, probably Massachusett pauwau (“he uses divination; he practices magic or sorcery”) or Narragansett powwáw (“sorcerer, shaman”), ultimately from Proto-Algonquian *pawe·wa (“one who dreams”).
Across languages
Translations
11 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Bulgarian: индиански знахар (indianski znahar) — a Native American council or meeting
- Navajo: atsʼos bee alzhishí — a Native American council or meeting
- Ojibwe: niimi'idiwin — a Native American council or meeting
- Polish: pow-wow — a Native American council or meeting
- Swedish: rådslag — a Native American council or meeting
- Bulgarian: пау-уау (pau-uau) — Indigenous recital or concert
- Plains-Cree: ᐸᐧᑎᓯᒧ — Indigenous recital or concert
- Plains-Cree: ᒪᐢᑭᓯᒧᐃᐧᐣ — Indigenous recital or concert
- Dakota: wačhípi — Indigenous recital or concert
- Lakota: wačhípi — Indigenous recital or concert
- Polish: pow-wow — Indigenous recital or concert