Definition of "potluck"

During my Stay here, I was going to take Pot-Luck with Colonel Ingram, and accidentally meeting him in the Way, I told him I deſigned to ſoul a Plate with him, [...]

1741, unknown [formerly attributed to Daniel Defoe], The Life and Adventures of Mrs. Christian Davies, the British Amazon, commonly called Mother Ross: […], 2nd edition, London: Printed for R[ichard] Montagu, part II, page 76

Me, to pot-luck, may any friend invite: / The treat, I can return, is my delight.

1782, M[arcus] Val[erius] Martial[is], “XXXIII. To an Entertainer.”, in The Epigrams of M. Val. Martial, in Twelve Books: […], London: Printed by Baker and Galabin, […]; and sold [...] by B. White [et al.], book VII (On the Convivial Manners of the Romans), page 327

Instead of frequent potluck enjoyments, it seems folks, now-a-days, regale their friends with a feast, which, if as seldom attempted as the author paints, cannot induce bankruptcy.

1810, Simon Gray [pseudonym; Alexander Boswell, Lord Auchinleck], “Notes”, in Edinburgh, or, The Ancient Royalty; a Sketch of Former Manners: With Notes, Edinburgh: Printed for Manners & Miller, by J. Johnstone, […], page 35

A pretty way to conciliate 'little tempers' indeed, to add to the offence of spoiling the fish the crime of bringing an unexpected friend to eat it. Pot luck, quotha, when the pot's boiled over this half hour!

1853, Pisistratus Caxton [pseudonym; Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter VII, in “My Novel”; Or Varieties in English Life […], volume I, Edinburgh, London: William Blackwood and Sons, book first, page 30

But he never contradicted Mrs Hackit—a woman whose "pot luck" was always to be relied on, and who on her side had unlimited reliance on bleeding, blistering, and draughts.

1857, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], “[The Sad Fortunes of the Reverend Amos Barton.] Chapter I”, in Scenes of Clerical Life [...] In Two Volumes, volume I, Edinburgh, London: William Blackwood and Sons, published January 1858, page 22

He at once resolved to accompany me to that island, ship aboard the same vessel, get into the same watch, the same boat, the same mess with me, in short to share my every hap; with both my hands in his, boldly dip into the Potluck of both worlds.

1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “Biographical”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, page 63

How to get rich of Dutch Henry taxed the wits of the invaders. The whole morning and the early afternoon went to pot-luck firing from the trench along the draw, but although it was often asserted that Henry must long since be dead—having returned none of the shooting that was meant to call his fire—no one manifested the curiosity necessary to prove the assertion by closing in on the cabin.

1921 August, Frank H[amilton] Spearman, “The Raid of the Falling Wall”, in Laramie Holds the Range, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, published November 1921, page 143

Last evening, at the Free Trade Club, a dinner was given by Hon. Robert R. Roosevelt to a large number of his friends. Though invitations had been issued for a week previous, the feast was decidedly of an impromptu character as far the viands went. [...] Cards of invitation of an amusing character were issued, on which the menu was indicated, with the names of the improvised cooks who were to concoct gumbo, lobster cutlets, plumb pudding, various salads, and coffee. [...] Course followed course in the most tumultuous way. Culinary inspirations and cookery nocturnes of all flavors and tastes crowded one on another. Anything like system was discarded, and this was thought likely to destroy the artistic effects of this pot-luck picnic.

1879 March 26, “The pot-luck picnic. An impromptu and enjoyable dinner–a display of culinary skill.”, in The New York Times‎, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, archived from the original on 16 July 2019, page 5

Then we had a potluck dinner. Each family brought a different dish. I always like Mrs. Rowlani's Persian rice best. I ate three helpings. Lisa likes it too, but she picks out the raisins and gives them to Fred [a dog].

1981, Wendy Heller, My Name is Nabil‎, Los Angeles, Calif.: Kalimát Press

One of the most neglected areas in the study of American celebrations remains the small group festive gathering. As discussed by Linda T. Humphrey, the Small Group Festive Gathering is "somewhere between festival and ritual … and the solitary sandwich, (when) small groups of people get together to share food and drink and to have a good time" [...]. Among the examples she provides are potlucks, cocktail parties, and reunions.

1984, Sue Samuelsen, Ray Kepner, “Bocce Ball Meets Hacky-sack: A Western Pennsylvania Independence Day Gathering”, in Bonita Freeman-Witthoft, Thomas E. Graves, editors, Keystone Folklore, volume 3, number 2 (New Series), West Chester, Pa.: Department of Anthropology and Sociology, West Chester University, for the Pennsylvania Folklore Society, page 26

Throw a class partay and tell stoodents to bring a potluck. Tell stoodents them can bring crakers & cheez wiz, salad bowl for vegtablians, [...]

2014, Jeremiah Toed, “Teacher, Please Intradouche Me 2 Hot Girl in the 1st Row??”, in Beth Schaefer, Grade A Papers: A Funny Coffee Table Book for Teachers and the Universe: 30 Wacky, Whimsical Student Papers Plus 4 Hilarious Parodies of Composition Theorists, Evanston, Ill.: Books on a Whim, page 52

Potlucks are the time for fun, unfussy dishes. [...] Thankfully, people now enjoy lots of different flavors. Nevertheless, a potluck with people you don't know well might not be the time to bring that tripe recipe you've always wanted to try.

2016, Kristin Donnelly, “Rules of the Potluck”, in Modern Potluck: Beautiful Food to Share, New York, N.Y.: Clarkson Potter/Publishers, Crown Publishing Group, page 16

We had but euen pot luck, a little to moyſten our lips, and no more.

1592 (first performance), Thomas Nash[e], A Pleasant Comedie, Called Summers Last Will and Testament‎, imprinted at London: By Simon Stafford, for Walter Burre, published 1600

[...] I am bold, in ſtead of new wine, to carowſe to you a cuppe of newes: which if your worſhip (according to your wonted Chauceriſme) ſhall accept in good part, Ile bee your daily orator to pray, that the pure ſanguine complexion of yours may never be abaſht with pot-lucke, that you may taſt till your laſt gaſpe, [...]

1592, Tho[mas] Nashe, “To the Most Copious Carminist of Our Time, and Famous Persecutor of Priscian, His Very Friend Maister Apis Lapis, […]”, in Strange Newes, of the Intercepting Certaine Letters and a Convoy of Verses, […], London: […] Iohn Danter, […]; republished in J[ohn] Payne Collier, editor, Illustrations of Early English Literature (Miscellaneous Tracts; Temp. Eliz. and Jac. I), volume II, London: Privately printed, page iii

kanne-geluck, Pot-luck, or he that drinkes the laſt draught out of a Canne or Pot.]

= A Large Netherdutch and English Dictionarie; Composed out of the Best Netherdutch Authours. […], Rotterdam: Gedruckt by Arnout Leers

Lord, Why do you two argue about a Peace, whether it ought to be made or no, when it is already made. It is as though a Man ſhou'd talk of Plowing his Land after 'tis Sown, or as though I ſhou'd talk of drinking Potluck, now that the Bottle is empty.

1712, [Thomas Burnet], A Certain Information of a Certain Discourse. That Happen’d at a Certain Gentlemans House, in a Certain County. Written by a Certain Person then Present, to a Certain Friend Now at London. From whence You may Collect the Great Certainty of the Account, London: Printed, and sold by John Baker […], page 31