potlatch UK /ˈpɒtlætʃ/US /ˈpɑtˌlæt͡ʃ/noun 2verb 2forms 3 noun2 •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.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. — 1900 •(US, Canada) A communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share; a potluck. verb2 •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. — 1920 •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. — 1869 formspotlatched · potlatching · potlatches
