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• pal
  pal

  noun

  a friend or close associate; chum; comrade.
• PAL
  PAL

  noun

  a special air service offered by the U.S. Postal Service for sending parcels from 5 to 30 pounds (2.3 to 13.5 kilograms) to overseas members of the armed forces: only the regular parcel post rate to the U.S. port of shipment plus $1 is charged.
• pal.
  pal.

  abbreviation

  paleography.
• Pal.
  Pal.

  abbreviation

  Palestine.

pal

¹ American  

[pal] / pæl /

noun

pals plural

1. a friend or close associate; chum; comrade.

2. an accomplice.

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verb (used without object)

palled, palling

1. to associate as comrades or chums.

   to pal around with the kid next door.

PAL ² American  

[pal] / pæl /

noun

1. a special air service offered by the U.S. Postal Service for sending parcels from 5 to 30 pounds (2.3 to 13.5 kilograms) to overseas members of the armed forces: only the regular parcel post rate to the U.S. port of shipment plus $1 is charged.

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PAL ³ American  

Or P.A.L.

abbreviation

1. Police Athletic League.

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pal. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. paleography.

2. paleontology.

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Pal. ⁵ American  

abbreviation

1. Palestine.

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pal ¹ British  

/ pæl /

noun

1. a close friend; comrade

2. an accomplice

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verb

1. (intr; usually foll by with or about) to associate as friends

Pal. ² British  

abbreviation

1. Palestine

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PAL ³ British  

/ pæl /

acronym

1. phase alternation line: a colour-television broadcasting system used generally in Europe

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• pals
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pal¹

First recorded in 1675–85; English Romani: “brother, mate,” variant of continental Romani phral, ultimately from Sanskrit bhrātṛ “brother”; see brother

Origin of PAL²

P(arcel) A(ir) L(ift)

Explanation

A pal is a good friend. When you're feeling nervous, sad, or lonely after moving to a new town, it can make you feel better to talk to a pal. If you have a friend you think of as a buddy or a mate, that's a pal. Your earliest pals are often the kids in your neighborhood or at school. As you get older, you have the chance to meet more pals — and when you're friendly with these pals and hang out with them, you can say you "pal around" with them. Pal is originally a Romany word meaning "brother," from the Sanskrit bhrata, also "brother."

Example Sentences

The deal was signed in a meeting Tuesday between Zelensky and Swedish defense minister Pal Jonson.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026

"J1007+3540 is one of the clearest and most spectacular examples of episodic AGN with jet-cluster interaction, where the surrounding hot gas bends, compresses, and distorts the jets," Dr. Pal explained.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

A drone jammed by the Swedish military after it was spotted near a French aircraft carrier docked in Malmo was "probably" Russian, Swedish defence minister Pal Jonson has said.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026

On Thursday, Sweden's Defence Minister Pal Jonson told the broadcaster SVT that the drone was "probably" of Russian origin.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

When asked why Fischer hadn’t won, Pal Benko, still smarting over his fight with Bobby, replied: “He simply wasn’t the best player.”

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady