pallet

1 of 2

noun (1)

pal·​let ˈpa-lət How to pronounce pallet (audio)
1
: a straw-filled tick or mattress
2
: a small, hard, or temporary bed

pallet

2 of 2

noun (2)

1
: a wooden flat-bladed instrument
2
: a lever or surface in a timepiece that receives an impulse from the escapement wheel and imparts motion to a balance or pendulum
3
: a portable platform for handling, storing, or moving materials and packages (as in warehouses, factories, or vehicles)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The flowers come in white and a colorful pallet of warm colors. oregonlive, 25 Feb. 2023 Discarded behind the weapon were several wooden pallet boxes, for shells or other components, stamped with serial numbers and a location: Wausau, Wisconsin. Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2023 Instead, their customers can manufacture components directly on a steel pallet without these moulds. IEEE Spectrum, 8 Feb. 2023 Just send your favorite shot to this Etsy seller and pick the pallet shape that suits his space. Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 6 Jan. 2023 In early April, as rain, hail and high winds pummeled North Texas, at least six tornadoes touched down, including one north of Alvarado, near the site of the lightning fire at a wooden pallet facility. Dallas News, 27 Dec. 2022 In Chula Vista, the city plans to open a shelter composed of 66 pallet homes, also known as sleeping cabins, next month. San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Dec. 2022 After multiple incidents involving water pallet guns in recent months, the Seguin Police Department issued a warning to residents Wednesday in a Facebook post. Shepard Price, San Antonio Express-News, 8 Dec. 2022 Most recently, Adidas dropped a collection that had a very similar aesthetic to Fear Of God’s brand voice, color pallet, and overall design. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 6 Dec. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pallet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English paillet, from Anglo-French paillete bundle of straw, from paille straw, from Latin palea chaff, straw; akin to Sanskrit palāva chaff

Noun (2)

Middle French palette, literally, small shovel — more at palette

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pallet was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near pallet

Cite this Entry

“Pallet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pallet. Accessed 22 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

pallet

noun
pal·​let
ˈpal-ət
1
: a straw-filled mattress
2
: a small, hard, or temporary bed

More from Merriam-Webster on pallet

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