Return to the home page.

Expand/collapse menu.

Visit Our Sites

Unabridged Dictionary

Learner's Dictionary

Word Central for Kids

Collegiate Dictionary

Expand/collapse menu.

Premium Services

Unabridged Dictionary

Collegiate Dictionary

Encyclopedia Britannica

Institutional Subscriptions

Expand/collapse menu.

Expand/collapse menu.

Word of the Day

Subscriber Help

Expand/collapse menu.

More Word Games

Daily Crosswords

Expand/collapse menu.

Open Dictionary

Alphabetical Browse

Browse Categories

Submit an Entry

Expand/collapse menu.

Spelling Bee Hive

Hive Headquarters

Spelling Champion

Spelling Reform

Expand/collapse menu.

Word for the Wise

Today's Broadcast

Expand/collapse menu.

Books and CD-Roms

Online Services

Palm and Pocket PC

Expand/collapse menu.

Looking Up a Word

Citing the Dictionary

Audio Pronunciations

Word Games Help

Expand/collapse menu.

Merriam-Webster FAQ

Advertising Info

Copyright Notice

Also Visit:
Unabridged
Visual

ESL:
Learner's
for Kids:
Word Central
Spell It!

pale

Browse the Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

Pale

Main Entry:: ¹pale
Pronunciation:: \ˈpāl\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Middle English, from Anglo-French pel, pal stake, from Latin palus — more at pole
Date:: 12th century

1archaic : palisade , paling2 a: one of the stakes of a palisade b: picket3 a: a space or field having bounds : enclosure b: a territory or district within certain bounds or under a particular jurisdiction4: an area or the limits within which one is privileged or protected (as from censure) <conduct that was beyond the pale>5: a perpendicular stripe on a heraldic shield

Learn more about "pale" and related topics at Britannica.com

See a map of "pale" in the Visual Thesaurus

Find Jobs in Your City

Pronunciation Symbols