pall

¹

[ pawl ]

noun

1. a cloth, often of velvet, for spreading over a coffin, bier, or tomb.
2. a coffin.
3. anything that covers, shrouds, or overspreads, especially with darkness or gloom.

   Synonyms: melancholy, veil, shroud, shadow, darkness, cloud

4. Ecclesiastical.
   1. pallium ( def 2b ).
   2. a linen cloth or a square cloth-covered piece of cardboard used to cover a chalice.
5. Heraldry. pairle ( def ).
6. Archaic. a cloth spread upon an altar; corporal.
7. Archaic. a garment, especially a robe, cloak, or the like.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover with or as with a pall.

pall

²

[ pawl ]

verb (used without object)

1. to have a wearying or tiresome effect (usually followed by on or upon ).
2. to become distasteful or unpleasant.
3. to become satiated or cloyed with something.

verb (used with object)

1. to satiate or cloy.

   Synonyms: surfeit, sate, glut

2. to make dull, distasteful, or unpleasant.

pall

¹

/ pɔːl /

verb

1. introften foll byon to become or appear boring, insipid, or tiresome (to)

   history classes palled on me

2. to cloy or satiate, or become cloyed or satiated

pall

²

/ pɔːl /

noun

1. a cloth covering, usually black, spread over a coffin or tomb
2. a coffin, esp during the funeral ceremony
3. a dark heavy covering; shroud

   the clouds formed a pall over the sky

4. a depressing or oppressive atmosphere

   her bereavement cast a pall on the party

5. heraldry an ordinary consisting of a Y-shaped bearing
6. Christianity
   1. a small square linen cloth with which the chalice is covered at the Eucharist
   2. an archaic word for pallium
7. an obsolete word for cloak

verb

1. tr to cover or depress with a pall

Other Words From

• pall-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pall¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English pal, palle “fine cloth; cloak; robe,” Old English pæll, from Latin pallium “cloak”

Origin of pall²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English pallen “impair; weaken”; shortened variant of appall

Word History and Origins

Origin of pall¹

C14: variant of appal

Origin of pall²

Old English pæll, from Latin: pallium

Example Sentences

His age, seeming infirmity, and catastrophically bad debate performance against Trump cast a pall of depression over many Democratic organizations and activists, and it seemed Trump then had a path toward a clear victory.

From Salon

He palled around with Madonna, dated Naomi Campbell and directed a couple of Nine Inch Nails videos — one of which, “Pinion,” was so racy that MTV wouldn’t play the full thing on air.

From Los Angeles Times

At the conclusion of workouts, a pall caused by the Stafford situation hung over the Rams and their otherwise sunny disposition.

From Los Angeles Times

His coffin, draped in the yellow flag of Hezbollah, was carried by pall bearers in camouflage uniforms and red berets.

From BBC

But make no mistake: A pall hangs over the Rams and their sunny disposition as they enter a break before reporting to training camp at Loyola Marymount on July 23.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cloak
• shroud
• veil