pal

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

Words nearby pal

Pakokku, pakoko, pakora, Pakse, pakthong, pal, palabra, palace, palace guard, palace revolution, Palacio Valdés

Definition for pal (2 of 5)

PAL¹

[ pal ]

/ pæl /

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.

Compare SAM¹ (def. 2).

Origin of PAL

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

Definition for pal (3 of 5)

PAL²

or P.A.L.

abbreviation

Police Athletic League.

Definition for pal (4 of 5)

pal.

paleography.

paleontology.

Definition for pal (5 of 5)

Pal.

Palestine.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for pal

Grant's pal Howard Hughes offered to fly them back to Los Angeles in his private plane.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A few weeks later, Valentino and her pal, an aspiring actress named Meg Foster, met Cosby again at Café Figaro.
Bill Cosby’s Long List of Accusers (So Far): 18 Alleged Sexual Assault Victims Between 1965-2004|Marlow Stern|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And your pal Laura Dern recently said you were “cooking up” your next one.
David Lynch on Transcendental Meditation, ‘Twin Peaks,’ and Collaborating With Kanye West|Marlow Stern|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You can up the ante even more by signing a contract agreeing to pay a pal $20 every time you skip Pilates.
4 Science-Backed Ways to Motivate Yourself to Work Out|DailyBurn|September 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

That was the sad and screwy logic that propelled Douglas McAuthur McCain and his pal Troy Kastigar.
American Jihadis Douglas McCain and Troy Kastigar: From Losers to Martyrs|Michael Daly|August 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"It's the meanest thing out,—that splitting on a pal," said the man who had been called Michael.
The Landleaguers|Anthony Trollope
Mount Her´mon, is near the source of the Jor´dan, on the east, and is the highest mountain in Pal´es-tine.
Outline Studies in the Old Testament for Bible Teachers|Jesse Lyman Hurlbut
It was like hanging round trying to make conversation to a pal who's just been sentenced to twenty years in quod.
My Man Jeeves|P. G. Wodehouse
At last, as her rebellious eyelids grew heavy, she crept up to a place beside her pal and fell asleep.
The Rope of Gold|Roy J. Snell
Even Timmie, who recognized his pal of other days, seemed happy.
Johnny Longbow|Roy J. Snell

British Dictionary definitions for pal (1 of 3)

pal

/ (pæl) informal /

noun

a close friend; comrade

an accomplice

verb pals, palling or palled

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

Word Origin for pal

C17: from English Gypsy: brother, ultimately from Sanskrit bhrātar brother

British Dictionary definitions for pal (2 of 3)

PAL

/ (pæl) /

n acronym for

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

British Dictionary definitions for pal (3 of 3)

Pal.

abbreviation for

Palestine

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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pal

noun

verb (used without object), palled, pal·ling.

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Origin of pal

Words nearby pal

Definition for pal (2 of 5)

noun

Origin of PAL