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parlay

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parlay

  • /ˈpɑːleɪ/ UK
  • /ˈpɑɹˌleɪ/ US
  • /ˈpɑɹli/ US

Sounds like parley (US, one pronunciation) · Rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)leɪ, -ɑː(ɹ)li

Where it comes from

The verb is derived from paroli (“cumulative bet in card games”), possibly modified under the influence of French parler (“to speak, talk”). Paroli is derived from French paroli (“double stake”), from Italian paroli, plural of parolo (first-person singular present indicative of parare (“to protect or shield (from); to prepare”), from Latin parāre, present active infinitive of parō (“to arrange, prepare; to furnish, provide”), from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“to go through; to carry forth, fare”)) + Italian -lo (suffix meaning ‘it; this or that thing’).

The noun is derived from the verb.

verb parlays · parlaying · parlayed · parley

  1. ambitransitive To carry forward the stake and winnings from a bet on to a subsequent wager or series of wagers.
  2. broadly, transitive To increase (an asset, money, etc.) by gambling or investing in a daring manner. Shall we parlay the value of our products?
  3. broadly, transitive To convert (a situation, thing, etc.) into something better. They believe that if [Roy] Harris can maintain his standing among the leading heavyweights, they can parlay this rating with Texas enthusiasm and oil money into enticing Floyd Patterson into coming down and defending his heavyweight title against Roy.
  4. alternative, intransitive Alternative spelling of parley (“to have a discussion, especially one between enemies”). "That is droll. Listen yet one time. You are very spiritual. Can you make a honorable lady of Her?" / "Don't be so malicious," says Mr. Bucket. / "Or a haughty gentleman of Him?" cries Madamoiselle, referring to Sir Leicester with ineffable disdain. "Eh! O then regard him! The poor infant! Ha! ha! h

noun parlays · parley

  1. A bet or series of bets where the stake and winnings are cumulatively carried forward; an accumulator. GARNETT. (Sharply.) Would someone mind telling a visitor the details of this Operation Snitch? / DENNIS. Kind of a three-horse-parlay, Cliff: Posenleben, Schweinhafen … (Eyes Prescott and Jenks.) And one other.

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verb to convert (a situation, thing, etc.) into something better

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MLA

"parlay." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/parlay. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

parlay. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/parlay

Chicago

"parlay." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/parlay.

BibTeX
@misc{parlay_2026,
  title = {parlay},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/parlay},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}