pal

¹ American  

[pal] / pæl /

noun

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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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

He and his best pal Chris Stark, who joined Radio 1 in 2012, were known for their real life, on-air bromance and for pranking each other.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

That leaves only the feigned feud between Paul and Gronkowski — Brady’s longtime pal and New England Patriots teammate.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

He set his sights on Greenland, apparently at the behest of a cosmetics heir pal.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

For me it began with a text from my pal “Deep Blue,” which initially didn’t seem terribly promising.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

“You? No, why? I don’t want any of these teachers flapping around him. But a pal or two, it’ll do him good.”

From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles