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pai-lou

noun
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variants: or less commonly pai-loo \ ˈpīˈlō \
plural pai-lou or pai-lous

Definition of pai-lou

: a usually elaborate Chinese commemorative archway erected in honor of someone highly esteemed (as for virtue) and consisting typically of four heavy square pillars topped with horizontal crossbeams and often buttressed with conventionalized lions and having an incised memorial tablet placed against or near the center crossbeam — compare toran, torii

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History and Etymology for pai-lou

Chinese p'ai2-lou2, from p'ai2 tablet + lou2 tower

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Cite this Entry

“Pai-lou.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pai-lou. Accessed 9 Mar. 2021.

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