subs. phr. (American).—Noise: hence (political) = a noisy meeting, and as verb. = to take part in such: also to frolic. [From N.A. Indian POW-WOW = a council.]
1825. NEAL, Brother Jonathan, III. 37. Off she goes; and if all they say’s true, turned witch, herself, an’ cussed poor Bet, with sich a POW-WOW! Ibid. (1833), The Down-Easters, vii. 105. Glancing at the ladies cabin, where a tremendous POW WOW had just broken out, Such a screaming of mothers! and such a squalling of babies.
1885. New York Herald, 22 June. The Know-Nothings were holding their grand national POW-WOW … and laying it on thick that “Americans shall rule America.”
