a competitive ceremonial activity among certain Native American tribes, esp the Kwakiutl, involving a lavish distribution of gifts and the destruction of property to emphasize the wealth and status of the chief or clan
2. US and Canadian informal
a wild party or revel
Word origin
C19: from Chinook, from Nootka patshatl a giving, present
potlatch in American English
(ˈpɑtlætʃ)
noun
1. (among Native Americans of the northern Pacific coast, esp. the Kwakiutl)
a ceremonial festival at which gifts are bestowed on the guests and property is destroyed by its owner in a show of wealth that the guests later attempt to surpass
2. North Western U.S.
a party or celebration
Word origin
[1835–45; ‹ Chinook Jargon pátlač, páƛač ‹ Nootka p̓aƛp̓a- (redupl. of p̓a- make ceremonial gifts in potlatch) + -č suffix marking iterative aspect]
Examples of 'potlatch' in a sentence
potlatch
An ideal place for a potlatch, the ultimate community bond.