pall
UK: pɔːl | US: pɑːl
n. 1. a cloth spread over a coffin, hearse, or tomb
n. 2. something that covers or conceals, especially with gloom or dullness
vt. 1. to become dull or tiresome
vi. 1. to lose strength or effectiveness
The word "pall" traces back to Latin pallium, meaning "cloak" or "covering." It entered Old English as pæll, referring to rich cloth or a cloak, often used ceremonially. Over time, it evolved to specifically denote a funeral cloth draped over a coffin, extending metaphorically to anything that obscures or dampens (e.g., "a pall of smoke" or "the excitement began to pall"). The semantic shift reflects the physical and emotional weight associated with coverings, both literal and figurative.
A velvet pall was draped over the soldier’s coffin during the ceremony.
The constant rain cast a pall over the outdoor festival.
His jokes began to pall after the third repetition.
The city lay under a pall of industrial smog.
The tragic news threw a pall on the celebratory mood.