talking stick
Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word talking stick. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word talking stick, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say talking stick in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word talking stick you have here. The definition of the word talking stick will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition oftalking stick, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Noun
talking stick (plural talking sticks)
- A ceremonial stick that grants the holder the right to speak in a group discussion.
- Synonym: speaker's staff
- (Australia) A piece of wood which is used by aboriginal Australians as part of or a form of communication either by being carved or by another method.
- Synonyms: message stick, stick letter
- 1901, R. H. Mathews, “Pictorial Art Among the Australian Aborigines”, in Journal of the Transactions of the Victoria Institute, or Philosophical Society of Great Britain, volume XXXIII, London: Harrison and Sons, page 304:
- These "talking sticks" appear to have been made according to some conventional design known among the tribes using them.
- 1903, Ada Janet Peggs, “Notes on the Aborigines of Roebuck Bay, Western Australia”, in Folk-lore, volume XIV, London: David Nutt, page 335:
- The same day that he read the talking-stick, he had asked permission to go to his own country, […]
- 1909, Coo-ee , “The Promised Land”, in What Lay Beneath, London: John Ouseley, page 168:
- Since that time I've put a mark or two on trees telling the news to the Wàddygalos in the talking stick language, but I expect they knew all about it.