(pāl) noun
1. Originally, a pointed stick of wood for driving into the ground; a stake; a paling; a fence picket.
2. A fence enclosing a piece of ground; hence, any boundary or limit.
3. That which is enclosed within bounds, literally or figuratively: the social pale.
4. Her. An ordinary consisting of a vertical band through the middle of the shield, occupying one third of its width.
—English pale
1. The varying portion of Irish territory which the Anglo-Normans conquered and governed for several centuries after their invasion of Ireland in the 12th century: also the Pale.
2. Formerly, the territory of Calais in France.
—v.t. paled, pal·ing To enclose with pales; fence in. ♦ Homophone: pail. [<OF pal <L palus a stake]

(pāl) adjective
1. Of a whitish or ashen appearance; pallid; wan.
2. Of a very light shade of any color; lacking in brightness or intensity of color.
—v.t. & v.i. To make or turn pale; blanch. ♦ Homophone: pail. [<OF palle <L pallidus. Doublet of PALLID.]
—pale′ly adverb
—pale′ness noun
—pal′ish adjective Synonyms (adj.): ashy, bloodless, cadaverous, colorless, ghastly, marble, pallid, wan, white. See GHASTLY. Antonyms: blushing, flaming, florid, flushed, purple, red, roseate, rosy, rubicund, ruddy.