Potluck

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A potluck is a dinner party in which guests bring dishes to share (see longer entry under potluck dinner). A secondary use is to refer to whatever food happens to be available, especially when offered to a guest. Another use also mentioned in dictionaries is "that which is tendered or available in certain circumstances or at a certain time" (the American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd edition, was consulted for these definitions).

The word potluck is often erroneously said to originate from the Native American term potlatch.

The word potluck dates from the sixteenth century, and the earliest written citation is 1592 - in England. ("That that pure sanguine complexion of yours may never be famisht with pot lucke", Thomas Nashe, see the Oxford English Dictionary for full reference). It is a portmanteau word formed from pot and luck.

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