Pali

noun

Pa·li ˈpä-lē

: an Indo-Aryan language used as the liturgical and scholarly language of Theravada Buddhism see Indo-European Languages Table

Word History

Etymology

Sanskrit pāli row, series of Buddhist sacred texts

First Known Use

1693, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of Pali was in 1693

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pali.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pali. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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