• (RP) IPA: /ˌpɒtˈlʌk/
• (GA) IPA: /ˈpɑtˌlʌk/, /-ˌlək/, /ˌpɑtˈlʌk/

potluck (also attributively)

1. (dated) A meal, especially one offer#Verb|offered to a guest, consisting of whatever food is available.

   Here are some leftover beans and meat; we can make a good potluck stew from them.

   • 1853, Pisistratus Caxton [pseudonym; Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter VII, in “My Novel”; Or Varieties in English Life [...] In Four Volumes, volume I, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, OCLC 457185834 ↗, book first, page 30 ↗:

     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!

   • 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, OCLC 977572916 ↗, page 22 ↗:

     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.

2. (by extension) Whatever is available in a particular situation.
   • 1851 November 13, Herman Melville, “Biographical”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, OCLC 57395299 ↗, page 63 ↗:

     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.

3. (originally, Canada, US) A shared#Adjective|shared meal consisting of whatever guests have brought (sometimes without prior arrangement); a potlatch; also, a dish#Noun|dish of food brought to such a meal.

   Synonyms: fuddle

4. (obsolete) The last#Adjective|last draft#Noun|draft or portion#Noun|portion of an alcoholic beverage in a pot#Noun|pot or other drinking#Adjective|drinking vessel.
   • 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, OCLC 222298685 ↗:

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

   • 1593, Tho[mas] Nashe, “[Dedication]”, in The Apologie of Pierce Pennilesse. Or, Strange Newes, of the Intercepting Certaine Letters: […], Printed at London: By Iohn Danter, […], OCLC 222196160 ↗; republished as John Payne Collier, editor, Strange Newes, of the Intercepting Certaine Letters […] (Miscellaneous Tracts; Temp. Eliz. and Jac. I), [London: s.n., 1870], OCLC 906587369 ↗, page iii ↗:

     [...] 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, [...]

• Spanish: comida ordinaria