Parley means to have a discussion or negotiation, especially with an enemy or opponent, usually to try to reach an agreement or avoid conflict. The word comes from the French parler, meaning “to speak.”

In pirate stories and historical tales, characters often call for a parley when they want to talk things over instead of fighting. A captured sailor might demand a parley with the pirate captain to negotiate terms. During wars, opposing armies sometimes agreed to a parley so their leaders could meet safely and discuss possible peace terms or prisoner exchanges.

The word suggests a formal conversation between people who don't trust each other or are on opposite sides of a dispute. Unlike a casual chat with a friend, a parley happens when the stakes are high and both sides need to communicate carefully. In the Old West, a sheriff might parley with an outlaw to convince him to surrender peacefully.

You might encounter this word in adventure books or movies when characters say “I demand a parley!” to invoke a temporary truce for talking. While we don't use the word much in everyday conversation anymore, it captures something specific: that moment when enemies agree to stop fighting long enough to see if words can solve their problem.