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noun

pall

pawl
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Pall (noun) means a heavy cloth draped over a coffin or tomb. Example: “A black velvet pall covered the casket as it was carried into the church.”

noun
1
A heavy cloth draped over a coffin or tomb.
"A black velvet pall covered the casket as it was carried into the church."
"The family chose a simple white pall for the funeral."
2
A dark, heavy covering of something, such as smoke, dust, or gloom, that spreads over a place.
"A pall of smoke hung over the city after the fire."
"A pall of silence fell over the room when the news broke."
verb
1
To become dull, tiresome, or unappealing after too much of something.
"Even the best jokes start to pall after you have heard them a dozen times."
"The luxury of the hotel began to pall after the first week."

How to use pall

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAs a noun, a pall is a heavy cloth laid over a coffin, or a thick covering of gloom, smoke, or dust. As a verb, it means to become boring or lose its appeal over time.

Common mistake

The verb sense ("to pall") is usually intransitive and often followed by "on" — "it began to pall on me" — not "it palled me."

Common pairings
a pall of smoke cast a pall over begin to pall
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Word forms

Plural
palls
Third person singular
palls
Past tense
palled
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

A black velvet _____ covered the casket as it was carried into the church.

Etymology

From Old English pæll, borrowed from Latin pallium ("cloak, covering") — the noun for a coffin-cloth came first; the verb "to grow dull" developed later in English.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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shroud veil blanket cloy jade mantle curtain cerement chill drapery drape weary

Antonyms

whet

Related words

general cool green cover cold wide wear temperature

Rhymes for pall

all wall fall ball tall call hall gall mall small shall stall
See all rhymes for pall →

Frequently asked questions

What does “pall” mean?
The word “pall” means a heavy cloth draped over a coffin or tomb. In plain terms, as a noun, a pall is a heavy cloth laid over a coffin, or a thick covering of gloom, smoke, or dust. As a verb, it means to become boring or lose its appeal over time.
How do you pronounce “pall”?
“Pall” is pronounced pawl (/pɔːl/ in IPA).
How do you use “pall” in a sentence?
Here is “pall” used in a sentence: “A black velvet pall covered the casket as it was carried into the church.”
What part of speech is “pall”?
Depending on how it is used, “pall” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “pall” come from?
The word “pall” comes from Latin. From Old English pæll, borrowed from Latin pallium ("cloak, covering") — the noun for a coffin-cloth came first; the verb "to grow dull" developed later in English.
How many meanings does “pall” have?
“Pall” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a heavy cloth draped over a coffin or tomb.

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general cool green cover cold wide wear temperature