SINCE 1828
palanquin
noun
pa·lan·quin
| \ ˌpa-lən-ˈkēn
, -ˈkwin, -ˈkin; ˈpa-lən-ˌkēn, -ˌkwin, -ˌkin; pə-ˈlaŋ-kwən
\
, -ˈkwin, -ˈkin; ˈpa-lən-ˌkēn, -ˌkwin, -ˌkin; pə-ˈlaŋ-kwən
\
Definition of palanquin
: a conveyance formerly used especially in eastern Asia usually for one person that consists of an enclosed litter borne on the shoulders of men by means of poles
Examples of palanquin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Visitors are greeted by life-size elephant mannequins, massive thrones, canopies, tents, palanquins, swings and swords that impress by their sheer weightiness. — Sharmila Mukherjee, The Seattle Times, "SAM’s ‘Peacock in the Desert’ opens the doors of our perception to the marvelous," 2 Jan. 2019 The newlyweds made quite an entrance, and were carried into the center on palanquins that were each held up by four men. — Brooke Porter Katz, Harper's BAZAAR, "Queen of the Desert: Henrietta Tiefenthaler & Oli Wennink's Wedding in Morocco," 11 Apr. 2018 In one of the museum’s thoroughfares, drums and pipes and colorful flags surround a bride’s covered palanquin and a groom’s bejeweled elephant. — Lee Lawrence, WSJ, "‘Peacock in the Desert’ Review: Courting Opulence in Northwest India," 10 Mar. 2018 Three separate and intensely solemn processions involving thousands of troops, a golden palanquin, a chariot and a royal gun carriage will move the royal urn representing Bhumibol’s remains from the Dusit Maha Prasad Throne Hall to the crematorium. — Washington Post, "Thailand grieves in elaborate final goodbye to King Bhumibol," 25 Oct. 2017 Royal palanquins and a golden chariot have been prepared for the five-day cremation ceremony, which weaves together 600-year-old spiritual traditions. — Hannah Beech, New York Times, "Thailand Prepares for a King’s $90 Million Cremation Ceremony," 25 Oct. 2017 An ornate palanquin, seen through a window in Bangkok on Friday, is prepared for the royal funeral. — Sunil Jagtiani, Bloomberg.com, "Thailand Prepares for Cremation of Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej," 8 Sep. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'palanquin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on palanquin
What made you want to look up palanquin? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
What did you just call me?! A Quiz
-
- If a member of the audience describes your speech as bombastic, does that person mean it is:
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Share palanquin
Resources for palanquin