paling

[ pey-ling ]

noun

1. Also called paling fence. picket fence.
2. a pale or picket for a fence.
3. pales pale collectively.
4. the act of building a fence with pales. pale.

paling

/ ˈpeɪlɪŋ /

noun

1. a fence made of pales
2. pales collectively
3. a single pale
4. the act of erecting pales

Word History and Origins

Origin of paling¹

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

Example Sentences

I think about the Clarence Thomas scandals breaking, you know, and the fact that he’s like paling around with a billionaire and essentially putting on display the fact that you can pay not just to hang out with the justice, but you can pay to have the rules rigged in your favor.

From Slate

He looked at Anya, face paling, then back at the torchbearer.

From Literature

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

From Salon

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

Back in those more “innocent” days by comparison, with those peccadilloes paling in contrast, I still held, and hold, that this republic of ours is a nation of laws and that is the bedrock of our values.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

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