pal
pronunciation
How to pronounce pal in British English:
UK [pæl]
How to pronounce pal in American English:
US [pæl]
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- Noun:
- a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
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- Verb:
- become friends; act friendly towards
Word Origin
- pal
- pal: [17] Pal is a Travellers’ contribution to English. It was borrowed from British Romany pal ‘brother, friend’, an alteration of continental Romany pral. This was descended ultimately from Sanskrit bhrátar- ‘brother’, a member of the same Indo-European word-family as English brother.=> brother
- pal (n.)
- 1788, from Romany (English Gypsy) pal "brother, comrade," variant of continental Romany pral, plal, phral, probably from Sanskrit bhrata "brother" (see brother (n.)). Extended colloquial form palsy-walsy attested from 1930.
- pal (v.)
- 1879, from pal (n.). Related: Palled; palling.