What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Parley vs Palaver - What's the difference?

parley | palaver |

As nouns the difference between parley and palaver

is that parley is a conference, especially one between enemies while palaver is (africa) a village council meeting, a folkmoot.

As verbs the difference between parley and palaver

is that parley is to have a discussion, especially one between enemies while palaver is to discuss with much talk.

parley

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A conference, especially one between enemies.
  • * (rfdate) (Dryden)
    • We yield on parley , but are stormed in vain.
  • * 1920 , , The Understanding Heart , Chapter IV
    • Without further parley Garland rode off up the hog's-back and the sheriff rode off down it …

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To have a discussion, especially one between enemies.
  • * 1638 Herbert, Sir Thomas Some years travels into divers parts of Asia and Afrique
    • ...at day break we found the villaine, who, loath to parlee in fire and ?hot, fled amaine and left us...

    See also

    * parlay * parle

    References

    * (EtymOnLine)

    Anagrams

    *

    palaver

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (Africa) A village council meeting, a folkmoot
  • * '>citation
  • Talk, especially unnecessary talk, fuss.
  • *1886 , , The Princess Casamassima .
  • *:These remarks were received with a differing demonstration: some of the company declaring that if the Dutchman cared to come round and smoke a pipe they would be glad to see him—perhaps he'd show where the thumbscrews had been put on; others being strongly of the opinion that they didn't want any more advice—they had already had advice enough to turn a donkey's stomach. What they wanted was to put forth their might without any more palaver ; to do something, or for some one; to go out somewhere and smash something, on the spot—why not?—that very night.
  • * 1899 , , Active Service :
    • Knowing full well the right time and the wrong time for a palaver of regret and disavowal, this battalion struggled in the desperation of despair.
  • * 1985 , , Option Lock , p 229:
    • Not for the first time, he reflected that it was not so much the speeches that strained the nerves as the palaver that went with them.
  • A meeting at which there is much talk; a debate, a moot.
  • * Carlyle
    • This epoch of parliaments and eloquent palavers .
  • (informal) Disagreement
    • I have no palaver with him.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To discuss with much talk.
  • * 1860 , Atlantic Monthly , vol. 5, no. 30 (April),
    • “That,” he rejoined, “is a way we Americans have. We cannot stop to palaver . What would become of our manifest destiny?”

    Synonyms

    * See also ----