n. & v.
n. 1 fuss and bother, esp. prolonged and tedious. 2 profuse or idle talk. 3 cajolery. 4 colloq. an affair or business. 5 esp. hist. a parley between African or other natives and traders.
v. 1 intr. talk profusely. 2 tr. flatter, wheedle.
[ Port. palavra word f. L (as PARABLE) ]