pow|wow

pow|wow «POW _WOW», noun, verb.

–n.

1. a ceremony of North American Indians, usually accompanied by magic, feasting, and dancing, performed for the cure of disease, success in hunting, victory in war, or other purposes.

2. a council or conference of or with North American Indians.

3. Informal. any conference or meeting: »

I'll be back early, for a last powwow on the terrace (Edith Wharton).

4. an American Indian priest or medicine man.

–v.i.

1. to hold an Indian powwow.

2. Informal. to confer: »

We would go to the cave and powwow over what we had done (Mark Twain).

╂[American English < Algonkian (probably Narragansett) powwow shaman, medicine man < a verb meaning “use divination”]