silent barter

noun

A system of bartering, once common in Africa, in which traders remain silent, either because they have no language in common or because they both wish to keep secret and not discuss the origins of their goods (especially gold and salt).

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Meanings

nounsilent barter (uncountable)
  1. uncountablebusinessA system of bartering, once common in Africa, in which traders remain silent, either because they have no language in common or because they both wish to keep secret and not discuss the origins of their goods (especially gold and salt).
Cite this entry
APA

silent barter. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/silent%20barter

MLA

“silent barter.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/silent%20barter. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “silent barter,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/silent%20barter.

Source: silent barter on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.