General
palone
What does palone mean?
Used affectionately or descriptively for any woman in the scene.
"That palone could zhoosh a riah like nobody else."
Origin
Polari/Parlyaree of 19th- and 20th-century Britain; 'palone' is of uncertain origin, possibly Italian 'paglione' or a related Romance word, a derivation Paul Baker flags as disputed.
Frequently asked questions
What does palone mean?
It is Polari for a woman or girl.
Where does palone come from?
Its origin is uncertain; one suggestion is Italian 'paglione', but scholars treat the derivation as unconfirmed.
What is a palone-omi?
Literally 'woman-man', it was Polari for a lesbian, mirroring 'omi-palone' for a gay man.
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