parlance

Etymology

From Middle English *parlaunce, from Anglo-Norman parlance, parlaunce, from parler (“to talk”) + -ance.

noun

  1. A certain way of speaking, of using words; especially that associated with a particular job or interest.
    To my childish fancy, it had seemed an imaginary flag-staff, or, in rustic parlance, the "liberty pole" of some former generation […] 1836, James Fenimore Cooper, "Eclipse"
    We approach the contest, still known in the common parlance of the country, as "the first Pennimite War." 1845, Charles Miner, History of Wyoming, Letter IX
    The tourist's impression of the country to-day is that of a transported Holland, in which the official language is Dutch and the parlance of the people is "taki-taki." 1909, William Elliot Griffis, The Story of New Netherland, Chapter 22
  2. Of a word, the quality of being lexicalized; especially as jargon or slang.
    Its use at a variety of levels, including the individual and organisational level, make it a varied term that has parlance in organisational development, performance management and talent management. 2020, Stanley Oluka, Performance Management System and Employee Performance in Amuria Health Centre IV, Eastern Uganda
  3. (archaic, rare) Speech, discussion or debate.
    And without further parlance they fought, […] 1849, Lady Charlotte Guest, The Mabinogion, "Peredur the Son of Evrawc"

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