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• dal
  dal

  noun

  dried and often split legumes, especially lentils or peas.
• dāl
  dāl

  noun

  the eighth letter of the Arabic alphabet.
• Dal
  Dal

  noun

  a river in S Sweden, flowing SE from the W border to the Gulf of Bothnia. About 250 miles (405 km) long.

dal

¹ American  

[dahl] / dɑl /

Or dhal,

noun

1. dried and often split legumes, especially lentils or peas.

2. a sauce or dish made from cooked lentils and spices, common in South Asian cuisine.

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dal ² American  

abbreviation

1. dekaliter; dekaliters.

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dāl ³ American  

[dahl] / dɑl /

noun

1. the eighth letter of the Arabic alphabet.

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Dal ⁴ American  

[dahl] / dɑl /

noun

1. a river in S Sweden, flowing SE from the W border to the Gulf of Bothnia. About 250 miles (405 km) long.

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dal ¹ British  

/ dɑːl /

noun

1. split grain, a common foodstuff in India; pulse

2. a variant spelling of dhal

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dal ² British  

symbol

1. decalitre(s)

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Etymology

Origin of dal¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Hindi dāl “split pulse, cooked pulse,” from Sanskrit dala, from dāl- “to split”

Origin of dāl³

From Arabic

Explanation

Dal is an Indian dish made using lentils and many delicious spices. Next time you go to an Indian restaurant, try ordering dal. The Hindi word dal can be used for any bean or legume that's split in half and can be cooked without soaking it first. Its Sanskrit root, also dal, means "to split." Dal is also the soup or stew made from split lentils, one of the most popular dishes in South Asia. A typical dal is made with onions, tomatoes, and whole spices fried in oil, and it is eaten with rice or a flat bread.

Example Sentences

Delta Air Lines DAL 0.65%increase; green up pointing triangle prides itself on not canceling flights.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

Carriers with first-class sections like Delta Air Lines DAL -2.42%decrease; red down pointing triangle and United Airlines UAL -4.46%decrease; red down pointing triangle have increased premium seating on flights over the past decade.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Delta Air Lines’ DAL -2.00%decrease; red down pointing triangle Glen Hauenstein plans to retire next year after nearly a decade as its president and more than two decades with the carrier.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025

Factories including a wheat mill belonging to DAL Group, the country's largest conglomerate, were looted in Sudan's main industrial zone, which contains key food and industrial manufacturers.

From Reuters • May 19, 2023

May you never know the awful feeling that you're an outcast, not wanted anywhere, is the wish of Your unhappy friend, DAL.

From V. V.'s Eyes by Harrison, Henry Sydnor