potlatch

noun

1. (Canada, US, also, figuratively, uncountable, usually)A ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest in which gifts are bestowed upon guests and personal property is destroyed in a show of generosity and wealth.

   “First, the Indian himself is to be sought out; then the horse is to be tried; next the price is to be discussed, then the mode of payment, and finally the potlatch: each and all are matters of grave consideration and delay, during which the Indians make a business of watching every circumstance of which they can take advantage. No one can be sure of closing his bargain, until the terms are duly arranged, the potlatch given, and the horse delivered.”

   “I questioned the Chief respecting a "Potlache" which he had held at his place during the previous winter, and ascertained that himself and two of his Headmen had given away in presents to their friends 134 sacks of flour, 140 pairs of blankets, together with a quantity of apples and provisions, amounting in value to about $700, for all of which they had paid in cash out of their earnings as laborers, fishermen, and hunters.”

   “That night there was a grand wedding and a potlach; so that for two days to follow there was no fishing done by the village.”

2. (Canada, US, uncountable, usually)A communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share; a potluck.

   “If all went according to plan, the bands could harvest tons of meat, fat and animal skins in a single afternoon of collective effort, and either consume these riches in a giant potlatch, or dry, smoke or (in Arctic areas) freeze them for later usage.”

verb

1. (transitive)To give; especially, to give as a gift during a potlatch ceremony.

   “He was a Chilkaht chief, and it being New Year's day, he had been to General Davis's house and "potlatched" (treated) to a bottle of whiskey.”

   “I came to see if you can potlatch any old sword, and hi-yu buttons [plenty buttons].”

   “The chief was permitted to meet his many creditors and return the goods he had received at previous feasts on the distinct understanding, however, that no gifts were to be "potlached" i.e., donated with the usual custom of having them returned.”

   “After giving them a feed and potlaching some grub for their back trip, we paid the Indians off, after making arrangements with them to return at a certain date.”

   “Then he gave out half dollars to all the Huupachas men and women because Kwalats (Gaillic's oldest boy) had stumbled against the saw he was going to potlatch. Charly Ross finished potlatching. The Tishaa were agog over the potlatching for the child who had stumbled.”

2. (intransitive)To carry out or take part in a potlatch ceremony.

   “Natives did not get their wheels into the water until the [salmon] run was nearly over; were all potlaching until the latter part of July.”

   “While girls are married as soon as they mature, the men marry much later, for custom dictates that a man to be eligible for marriage must have potlached at least once and preferably three times. This rule is gradually breaking down, but even now public opinion frowns on early marriage by young men.”

   “When they describe, for example, payment of cattle for a bride in East Africa, offering a gift in India to earn spiritual merit, exchanging favors between compadres in Middle America, giving a ceremonial necklace in return for an arm shell in the Trobriand kula ring, and potlaching each other by Kwakiutl chiefs, ethnographers are assuming the operation of some reciprocal principle.”