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paling

American  
[pey-ling] / ˈpeɪ lɪŋ /

noun

  1. Also called paling fence.  picket fence.

  2. a pale or picket for a fence.

  3. pales collectively.

  4. the act of building a fence with pales.

paling British  
/ ˈpeɪlɪŋ /

noun

  1. a fence made of pales

  2. pales collectively

  3. a single pale

  4. the act of erecting pales

"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

Etymology

Origin of paling

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at pale 2, -ing 1

Vocabulary lists containing paling

Vocabulary from history writings about the Triangle Factory Fire

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Even Marvel has recently seen lower box office results for its films — despite critical praise, “Thunderbolts*” grossed about $382 million worldwide on a budget of $180 million, paling in comparison to past films.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2025

What, you might ask, prompted this remark from the paling former personality?

From Salon • Feb. 25, 2023

But each of those fines was for just $6,949, paling in comparison to what Metcalf received for the incident with Baynes, and speaking to how the NFL views any verbal offenses directed at officials.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 22, 2022

Free agency is in its infancy in MLS, paling in the impact and intrigue that grips the NBA, NFL and MLB.

From Washington Post • Mar. 1, 2019

“Yes, well, I meant, ah, more for personal emergencies,” Gwystyl explained, paling.

From "The Black Cauldron" by Lloyd Alexander

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.