1. Plural of potlatching; instances or ceremonies of potlatch, a gift-giving feast practiced by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest in which a host gives away or destroys wealth to display status and generosity.
Usage: anthropology; cultural practice; primarily historical and ethnographic contexts

Examples

• The potlatchings of the Tlingit people were elaborate ceremonies that reinforced social hierarchies.
• Early anthropologists documented numerous potlatchings among the Kwakwaka'wakw nations.
• These potlatchings involved the distribution of blankets, food, and other valuable goods.
• The Canadian government once banned potlatchings as part of assimilationist policies.
• Modern potlatchings continue to be important cultural events in some Pacific Northwest communities.