/ pəˈlɑːvə(r); NAmE ; NAmE also -ˈlæv-/ noun ( informal )
1.
[ U , sing. ] ( BrE ) a lot of unnecessary activity, excitement or trouble, especially caused by sth that is unimportant
SYN fuss :
What's all the palaver about?
What a palaver it is, trying to get a new visa!
2.
[ U ] ( NAmE ) talk that does not have any meaning; nonsense :
He's talking palaver.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 18th cent. (in the sense a talk between tribespeople and traders ): from Portuguese palavra word, from Latin parabola comparison, from Greek parabolē placing side by side, application, from para- beside + bolē a throw (from the verb ballein ).