pali

¹ American  

[pah-lee] / ˈpɑ li /

noun

1. (in Hawaii) a steep slope or cliff.

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Pali ² American  

[pah-lee] / ˈpɑ li /

noun

1. the Prakrit language of the Buddhist scriptures.

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Pali British  

/ ˈpɑːlɪ /

noun

1. an ancient language of India derived from Sanskrit; the language of the Buddhist scriptures

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Etymology

Origin of pali¹

From Hawaiian

Origin of Pali²

1685–95; short for Sanskrit pāli-bhāsa language of the canonical texts, equivalent to pāli line, row, canon + bhāsa language

Example Sentences

A red British passport was a prized possession for those who had been in the UK long enough to own one alongside the Nigerian document, known as a green pali.

From The Guardian • Aug. 24, 2019

Ho’omaluhia Botanic Garden, at the foot of the pali, is richly replanted in native species.

From New York Times • Sep. 2, 2011

Ke wawa Pu'u-hina-hina; 495 Kani ka aka, he-hene na pali, 5Na pali o Ka-iwi-ku'i.

From Unwritten Literature of Hawaii The Sacred Songs of the Hula by Emerson, Nathaniel Bright

Red shows the pali, i. e., the side hill.

From Unwritten Literature of Hawaii The Sacred Songs of the Hula by Emerson, Nathaniel Bright

Ah, strange are the pranks of the wind, The Kiu-k�'e wind of the pali!

From Unwritten Literature of Hawaii The Sacred Songs of the Hula by Emerson, Nathaniel Bright